The art of the peace deal: What the Trump administration wants from the Russia-Ukraine negotiations
Trump is keen to trade US involvement in Ukraine for a vision of a new Russian-American order
Experts & Staff
Célia Belin
Head, ECFR Paris
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Trans-Atlantic relations, US politics and foreign policy, French politics and foreign policy, and domestic determinants of foreign policy
Languages
French, English, Spanish
Biography
Dr Célia Belin is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and head of its Paris office since January 2023.
Between 2017 and 2022, Belin was a Visiting Fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe of the Brookings Institution, in Washington DC, and served as the Interim Director of the Center between May and August 2022. She remains affiliated as a non-resident senior fellow with Brookings.
Prior to joining Brookings, Belin served for over five years as a Special Advisor on US and transatlantic affairs in the French foreign ministry’s Centre d’Analyse, de Prévision et de Stratégie and chief editor of the centre’s flagship publication, Les Carnets du CAPS.
She holds a PhD in political science/international relations from the University Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2), an MA in international relations from the University Paris 2 as well as a BA in modern languages and business from the University of Burgundy.
Belin is the author of “Des Démocrates en Amérique: L’heure des choix face à Trump,” published by Fayard-Fondation Jean Jaurès in 2020. She regularly writes in the press and specialised journals on US affairs, French foreign policy and trans-Atlantic relations and is a frequent commentator on radio and television. Belin is also a member of the editorial committee of the online francophone platform Le Rubicon.
Le Pen’s fall: Europe’s far-right faces a reckoning
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin to unpack what the conviction of Marine Le Pen means for French politics and European democracy
Slip of Le Pen: How the conviction of the French politician will fuel Europe’s far right
The sentencing of far-right politician Marine Le Pen for embezzling EU funds will not only change the 2027 race for the French presidency. It also risks emboldening anti-establishment narratives across Europe and the US
Trump’s shadow: Reshaping politics and policy across Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes ECFR experts to unpack how Donald Trump’s presidency is reshaping Europe’s domestic politics and foreign policy
What Trump’s election means for Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, Piotr Buras, Anna Kuchenbecker, Maria Simeonova, and Arturo Varvelli to discuss what the outcome of the US election means for Europe
Navigating a new America: Harris or Trump, Europeans need a collective US strategy
As the US election nears, EU member states must unite to navigate shifting American priorities, safeguarding their interests for a stable and mature transatlantic relationship
Swamp Chronicles: Célia Belin and Madja Ruge on the foreign policy of the next US administration
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Jeremy Shapiro talk to Célia Belin and Majda Ruge about the US election and the various foreign policy tribes within the Democratic and Republican party
Kamala Harris and the future of US foreign policy
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin and Jeremy Shapiro to discuss Kamala Harris’s foreign policy
Germany, France, and the rise of Euroscepticism
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin and Jana Puglierin to discuss recent developments in French and German politics, and the wider implications for Europe
Waltzing in: What Harris’s running-mate could mean for US foreign policy
Kamala Harris has completed the Democratic ticket by choosing Tim Walz as her running-mate. Here’s what his vice presidency could mean for the future of US foreign policy
Publications
Imagining Trump 2.0: Six scary policy scenarios for a second term
The potential return of Donald Trump to the White House is a matter of months away. Here are six scary policy scenarios to give Europeans sleepless nights and prepare them for what could be to come
Brace yourself: How the 2024 US presidential election could affect Europe
Fierce debates are raging among both Republicans and Democrats about America’s future foreign policy orientation. Europeans should take note and prepare
Articles
The art of the peace deal: What the Trump administration wants from the Russia-Ukraine negotiations
Trump is keen to trade US involvement in Ukraine for a vision of a new Russian-American order
Slip of Le Pen: How the conviction of the French politician will fuel Europe’s far right
The sentencing of far-right politician Marine Le Pen for embezzling EU funds will not only change the 2027 race for the French presidency. It also risks emboldening anti-establishment narratives across Europe and the US
Navigating a new America: Harris or Trump, Europeans need a collective US strategy
As the US election nears, EU member states must unite to navigate shifting American priorities, safeguarding their interests for a stable and mature transatlantic relationship
Waltzing in: What Harris’s running-mate could mean for US foreign policy
Kamala Harris has completed the Democratic ticket by choosing Tim Walz as her running-mate. Here’s what his vice presidency could mean for the future of US foreign policy
Anatomy of a close call: The aftermath of Macron’s great gamble
To form a workable government after the snap election, French parties will need to make coalitions and concessions. But such cooperation runs contrary to French political culture, and the likely divisions risk weakening France’s voice on the international and European stage
France’s fallout: The foreign policy consequences of the far right’s ascent
The far-right National Rally is leading the polls ahead of the second round of the French election. Its success would have inevitable consequences for French foreign policy
Battle redux: Macron, Le Pen, and France’s European election campaign
President Emmanuel Macron has set his strategy for this year’s European Parliament election. At its heart are pro-Europeanism, support for Ukraine – and an eye to shaping the leadership of EU institutions
After the riots: The future of Macron’s foreign policy
France’s support for EU and NATO enlargement could be transformational for European security. But domestic unrest and sniping by others could undermine French steadfastness on these major questions
A north-south lifeline: What Macron hopes to accomplish with the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact
France is looking to give political impetus to reform of the global financial architecture. Others should swing in behind its gambit
Leaders, realists, progressives: The three Democratic ‘tribes’ that could shape European relations with America
US policy on Ukraine has reassured Europeans. But as it prepares for re-election, the Biden administration will likely adopt more realist and progressive positions
Podcasts
Le Pen’s fall: Europe’s far-right faces a reckoning
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin to unpack what the conviction of Marine Le Pen means for French politics and European democracy
Trump’s shadow: Reshaping politics and policy across Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes ECFR experts to unpack how Donald Trump’s presidency is reshaping Europe’s domestic politics and foreign policy
What Trump’s election means for Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, Piotr Buras, Anna Kuchenbecker, Maria Simeonova, and Arturo Varvelli to discuss what the outcome of the US election means for Europe
Swamp Chronicles: Célia Belin and Madja Ruge on the foreign policy of the next US administration
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Jeremy Shapiro talk to Célia Belin and Majda Ruge about the US election and the various foreign policy tribes within the Democratic and Republican party
Kamala Harris and the future of US foreign policy
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin and Jeremy Shapiro to discuss Kamala Harris’s foreign policy
Germany, France, and the rise of Euroscepticism
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin and Jana Puglierin to discuss recent developments in French and German politics, and the wider implications for Europe
The far-right falters: Outcomes of the French snap election
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin to discuss the results of the French election
Europe is shifting: EU election results could divide Europe
In this new episode, Vessela Tcherneva welcomes head of ECFR offices to discuss national implications of the EU elections
The European pulse: the election and beyond
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, Piotr Buras, Jana Puglierin, Maria Simeonova, José Ignacio Torreblanca, and Arturo Varvelli to discuss the European Parliament elections and the future of European politics
Macron and Europe: the French vision for strategic autonomy
Last week, France’s president Emmanuel Macron threw the EU bubble into turmoil by suggesting that Europe should not become the United States’ “vassal” over Taiwan
Events
11 Jun
Sanctions, contrôles aux exportations, tarifs douaniers… Comment “Trump-proofer” l’économie européenne ? A Black Coffee Morning
À seulement six mois de l’élection présidentielle américaine de novembre, les Européens s’efforcent de se préparer à une possible réélection de Donald Trump. Dans le domaine…
10 Jun
ECFR’s Election Insights: Implications for Europe’s foreign policy agenda
This webinar will provide a snapshot analysis of election results and their implications for Europe’s foreign policy and security agenda. Featuring perspectives from selected ECFR…
In the media
With this decision, I think we are really at a crossroads for the National Rally
Célia Belin on Le Pen’s ruling, and how it is fuel for global right’s attacks on court authority
What has become increasingly clear is that Trump’s team sees Europe as a parasitic freeloading ally and its liberal democracies as political and ideological adversaries
Célia Belin on an alliance between Europe and the US
Macron has enough experience to adopt the right attitude, but there is no guarantee that it will work
Célia Belin on the relationship between Macron and Trump
The position of the Europeans remains clear, an agreement entirely for the benefit of Russia is unacceptable
Célia Belin on Europe’s position on the terms of the peace deal in Ukraine
Celia Belin spoke of the evolutions in American domestic politics with the return of Donald Trump to the White House