Yesterday, we had the privilege of visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Egmont Palace, and the Office of Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot for an afternoon that offered a rare and genuine look into the world of Belgian diplomacy.

Our first meeting was with Marleen Steenbrugghe, Adviser in the Cabinet, in charge of Multilateral Affairs. Together we explored Belgium’s role across international organisations, Brussels’ standing as a global diplomatic capital, and the ongoing challenges facing the United Nations.

We then moved to the Egmont Palace, where Caroline Piret, Master of Ceremony and Protocol Officer, introduced us to the world of diplomatic protocol. Beyond the rules and the precision that the field demands, she brought it to life with candid anecdotes from behind the scenes.

To close the afternoon, we returned to the Foreign Affairs Cabinet for a meeting with Chief of Staff H.E. Hubert Roisin, Director of United Nations Affairs H.E. Michiel Martens , and Deputy Chief of Staff Benjamin Bodson.

We are grateful to everyone at the Cabinet and the Protocol Department, their time and openness!