Relationship dossier
Belgium
Russia
Relationship assessment
Sanctions and reciprocal diplomatic expulsions have made Belgium–Russia government relations substantially adversarial.
Belgium toward Russia
-50Belgium has implemented EU sanctions against Russia and supported Ukraine. In 2022, Belgium expelled Russian diplomats, citing concerns including espionage.
Russia toward Belgium
-50In 2022, Russia expelled Belgian diplomats in retaliation for Belgium’s expulsion of Russian diplomats. Russia has also imposed sanctions on Belgium as part of its response to Western measures.
Overall relationship
-50The relationship is substantially adversarial, shaped by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Belgium’s implementation of EU sanctions and support for Ukraine, and reciprocal diplomatic expulsions. These disputes outweigh the significance of continuing formal diplomatic ties.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Belgium’s implementation of EU sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine have made government relations substantially adversarial. Belgium expelled Russian diplomats in 2022, and Russia responded by expelling Belgian diplomats. These actions, alongside Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions confrontation, define the relationship despite continuing formal diplomatic ties.
Areas of tension
- Belgium’s implementation of EU sanctions against Russia
- Belgian support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion
- Reciprocal expulsions of Belgian and Russian diplomats
- Russia’s sanctions against Belgium
Key developments
Belgium expelled Russian diplomats amid the diplomatic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia expelled Belgian diplomats in retaliation for Belgium’s expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of any remaining bilateral cooperation outside the sanctions and diplomatic disputes is unclear.
- The extent to which Belgian policy toward Russia may change as the Ukraine war and EU sanctions evolve is uncertain.