IWI Europe | Country in Focus | Past, Present, and Beyond: Belgian Perspectives on Irregular Warfare

Description

In this Fireside Chat hosted by IWI Project Europe, we sit down with two senior leaders of Belgium’s Special Operations Forces: Colonel Wim Denolf, Director of the Belgian Special Forces Command, and Colonel Raphael Bechet, Commander of the Belgian Special Operations Regiment. Together, they explore Belgium’s evolving role in addressing irregular threats—from WWII roots to 21st-century coalitions. The conversation covers: — Belgium’s historical lineage of Special Forces, tracing back to the Belgian SAS and commando units of WWII — Key multinational missions, including Operation Valiant Phoenix (Iraq) and Operation New Nero (Niger) — Lessons learned from training and engagement in the Sahel, including the rise of Russian PMCs and the limits of Western legitimacy. — How Belgium is adapting to renewed peer-to-peer threats in Europe by shifting from a “supported” to a “supporting” SOF role — The integration of advanced technologies into low-visibility, special reconnaissance, and resistance-network training — The unique advantages Belgium brings to NATO and European coalitions: multilingualism, interdepartmental coordination, cultural fluency, and a tradition of diplomatic competence This episode offers a rare window into how a small but strategically agile European nation leverages its legacy, coalition mindset, and human-centric doctrine to address the complexities of today’s irregular and hybrid threats. Subscribe for more insights from global irregular warfare practitioners and strategists. Learn more at www.irregularwarfare.org #IrregularWarfare #BelgianSOF #SpecialOperations #IWIProjectEurope #NATO #HybridWarfare #Sahel #MilitaryTraining #WimDenolf #RaphaelBechet