Belgium’s Princess Astrid and Minister of Defence Theo Francken visited the Hoover Institution at Stanford University this month, leading a delegation that included scholars, diplomats, business leaders, and military officers. The visit focused on discussions about trade, dialogue, and ongoing security cooperation between Belgium and the United States.
Theo Francken, who serves as both Belgium’s minister of defense and minister responsible for foreign trade, told Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice that his coalition government has brought stability to Belgium during a period of uncertainty in Europe. “His coalition government, which features four different parties coming together, has brought the country stability at a time when uncertainty abounds in Europe,” Francken said.
The Belgian delegation was also in the Bay Area to meet with Silicon Valley companies to encourage bilateral investment and trade. The group included representatives from all branches of the Belgian armed forces as well as academics from Belgian universities and members of the private sector.
During their visit to Hoover, Princess Astrid and other delegates met with several Hoover scholars to discuss shared challenges facing Europe and America. They addressed topics such as political sentiment on both continents and the resilience of transatlantic relations.
Rice noted longstanding ties between Belgium and Stanford University. She highlighted Herbert Hoover’s early humanitarian work aiding civilians in Belgium during World War I. Additionally, she mentioned that “the 35 bells that make up the carillon atop the Hoover Tower once stood inside Belgium’s Pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.” She also recalled that King Filip of Belgium studied at Stanford in the mid-1980s.
The Hoover Institution Library & Archives maintains extensive collections related to Belgium. These include records on World War I relief efforts led by Herbert Hoover as well as documents covering World War II, domestic politics, and labor movements in Belgium.
Looking ahead to transatlantic security issues, both Francken and Rice emphasized recent agreements among NATO members—including nearly all continental European countries—to increase defense spending to at least 2 percent of GDP. Francken stated: “His government is committed to meeting the 2 percent threshold with spending on more personnel, equipment, and military infrastructure beginning in January 2026.”
Francken pointed out that these investments are necessary given ongoing security challenges in Europe. He described Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine as part of a broader “hybrid” war effort intended to disrupt the European Union.
Princess Astrid also took time during her visit to meet with Stanford students and faculty who have connections to Belgium.
After discussions between Francken and Rice concluded, Senior Fellows David Brady and Anna Grzymala-Busse spoke about similarities between political trends among U.S. voters and those seen across Europe.
