Belgium–Russia relations
Encyclopedia
Belgium–Russia relations refers to the bilateral
foreign relations
between the two countries, Belgium
and Russia
. Russia has an embassy in Brussels
and a consulate-general in Antwerp, whilst Belgium has an embassy in Moscow
and the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg
.
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
.
in 1717. Amongst towns he visited were Brussels
, Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa
. Peter left his mark in Spa, when he built an edifice with a portico
over the main spring, which the locals renamed in his honour as Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand. Diplomatic relations were established between Belgium and the Russian Empire
in 1853, when Mikhail Irineyevich Khreptovich was appointed as the first envoy of the Russian Empire in Brussels
on 19 March 1853.
and Brussels Airlines
operating flights between Moscow
and Brussels
.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
foreign relations
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
between the two countries, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Russia has an embassy in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and a consulate-general in Antwerp, whilst Belgium has an embassy in Moscow
Embassy of Belgium in Moscow
The Embassy of Belgium in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of Belgium in Russia. It is located at 7 Malaya Molchanovka Street in the Arbat District of Moscow.- See also :* Belgium–Russia relations* Diplomatic missions in Russia- External links :...
and the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
.
History
High level contacts between Belgium and Russia began in the early 18th century, when Peter the Great visited the Southern NetherlandsSouthern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
in 1717. Amongst towns he visited were Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa
Spa, Belgium
Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
. Peter left his mark in Spa, when he built an edifice with a portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
over the main spring, which the locals renamed in his honour as Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand. Diplomatic relations were established between Belgium and the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1853, when Mikhail Irineyevich Khreptovich was appointed as the first envoy of the Russian Empire in Brussels
Ambassador of Russia to Belgium
This is a list of Ambassadors to Belgium of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and the Russian Federation:- Russian Empire :* Mikhail Irineyevich Khreptovich; 11 April 1853 - 17 July 1856* Aleksandr Borisovich Rikhter; 17 July 1856 - 16 April 1859...
on 19 March 1853.
Trade relations
In 2004, trade between the two countries totally €4.75 billion, an increase of €1.18 billion over the previous year, with Russia holding a trade surplus of €1.51 billion in bilateral trade. Russian exports to Belgium were mainly commodities, including minerals (37%), precious and semi-precious stones (22%), ferrous and non-ferrous metals (17%) and chemical products (8%). Russian imports from Belgium were composed of industrial equipment (25%), chemicals and pharmaceuticals (18%), plastic products and rubber (9%), food (8%) and transportation (8%). In 2004, Belgium imported 30% of its oil and natural gas from Russia. Air transport links between the two countries exist, with AeroflotAeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
and Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is a flag carrier airline headquartered in the b.house on the grounds of Brussels Airport and in Diegem, Machelen, Belgium and a subsidiary of Lufthansa. It is the largest airline based in Belgium, operating to over 65 destinations in 20 European countries as well as long-haul...
operating flights between Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
See also
- Foreign relations of BelgiumForeign relations of Belgium-Initial neutrality:Because of its location at the crossroads of Western Europe, Belgium has historically been the route of invading armies from its larger neighbours. With virtually defenceless borders, Belgium has traditionally sought to avoid domination by the more powerful nations which...
- Foreign relations of RussiaForeign relations of RussiaThe foreign relations of Russia is the policy of the Russian government by which it guides the interactions with other nations, their citizens and foreign organizations and sets standards of interaction for Russian organizations, corporations and individual citizens towards them...
- Russians in BelgiumRussians in Belgium-Migration history:Migration from Russia to Belgium grew in line with increasing commercial relations between the two countries in the late 19th century. By 1910, there were already roughly 7,500 Russians in the country, including many students in universities at Brussels, Ghent, and Liège. The...