Brigadier General Xavier Deneys Assumes Presidency of the B-GCSP

Established in 2007, the Belgian hub of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) Alumni & Community - called B-GCSP - was the first of its kind worldwide, pioneering a model of national engagement. Nearly two decades later, the hub continues to serve as a vibrant platform connecting Belgian and international security professionals based in Brussels. On 13 February, BrigGen Xavier Deneys assumed the presidency of B-GCSP. Drawing on a distinguished military career and his experience as an alumnus of the GCSP’s Leadership in International Security Course (LISC), he brings a clear vision for strengthening the hub’s reach, fostering meaningful engagement among the Belgian GCSP Alumni Community and maintaining quality, substantive and networking exchanges within an increasingly complex security environment.

We asked him a few questions about his vision for the hub, the role of the GCSP network in his career, and the impact of the LISC.

Isabelle Gillet, Head of the Alumni & Community Engagement Office: As you take on the presidency of B-GCSP, how do you envision the hub’s role within the broader GCSP network, and what priorities or ambitions would you like to advance during your mandate?

Xavier Deneys: A lot of GCSP Alumni are stationed in Brussels coming from all over the world. Many of them, fulfilling a diplomatic function at the EU or NATO level, are here for a limited period of three to four years. We aim to take advantage of this large community and increase our reach-out within our community, and to involve everyone better in our activities, reinforcing the international dimension of the Brussels’ Hub. We would also like to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of non-Belgian alumni for activities like thematic debates, where we aim to bring together different voices and backgrounds.

IG: Looking back on your career, including your posting as Defence Attaché in Serbia, how has the professional network of the GCSP supported your work? Can you share an example of how it had proved valuable in practice?

XD: After the end of the LISC course in May 2019, I was immediately sent to Belgrade as Defence Attaché. There I was blessed to be welcomed and guided in my new function by an extraordinary alumnus (and former teacher at the GCSP), Colonel Urs Amiet who was my Swiss counterpart. The GCSP network clearly opens doors and helps create contacts, especially in the beginning of a new assignment. I would like in this respect to underline and praise the pivotal collaboration from the Swiss embassies in the organisation or support of the GCSP’s GANN events.

IG: What distinguishes the GCSP Alumni Community for you, both at the Belgian level and internationally, and how do you see its added value for security professionals navigating complex policy environments today?

XD: The GCSP Alumni Community has this particular and unique added value of gathering people coming from various horizons, looking at security issues from different perspectives, but

who share core values, despite their differences. This common ground allows us collectively to better understand and address complexity, avoiding easy but irrelevant answers to difficult questions. We know the world’s problems cannot be fixed by a tweet. This is of particular importance in today’s world where the Rules Based International Order is under much stress.

IG: What struck you most about the Leadership in International Security Course (LISC), and which elements of the course have had the most lasting impact on your professional outlook or career journey?

XD: What struck me is that after many years spent in my military bubble, I was confronted with colleagues from diverse professional and geographical backgrounds, which forced me to rethink my approach. . As a whole,I learned that processes do matter. As military officers, we tend to be very much result-oriented (and often interpreting to a certain extent the Pareto principle - getting quickly to a solution which is ‘good enough’). This is not always possible in international security, and it is also not possible when you are working with such a diverse group.

I am also very happy that we could keep our friendship alive after so many years.