Xavier BARA
Researcher of the Centre for Security and Defence Studies
Biography
Captain Xavier Bara started his active service in the Belgian Army in 1994, in a spirit “for King and Country”. He has alternated the status categories of regular (full-time service), ready reserve and, since 2019, back to regular. He was assigned to the Jagers te Paard/Chasseurs à Cheval (reconnaissance light cavalry), his “corps of affiliation and heart”. In 1998, he gained experience in the Commando Training Centre. After years in the rank and file, he was commissioned as an officer in the armoured cavalry. In 2009, he was assigned to the 2/4th Regiment of Jagers te Paard/Chasseurs à Cheval and in 2011 to the Jagers te Paard/Chasseurs à Cheval Battalion/ISTAR Battalion (Intelligence – Surveillance – Target Acquisition – Reconnaissance). He developed his staff competence mainly in Branch 2/intelligence analysis and in 2019-2020 as an assistant staff officer Operations & Training (AS3) in the ISTAR Battalion, Staff & Services Squadron. In 2022, he obtained a certificate of Adviser in Law of Armed Conflicts at the Belgian Defence College. As an instructor at the Koninklijke School voor Onderofficieren/École royale des sous-officiers (royal school for non-commissioned officers) from 2021 to mid 2023, Captain Bara taught military organisation and law of the armed conflicts, and trained future military instructors. Since July 2023, he has been working as a researcher at the Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS), responsible for the research line “Indo Pacific”. Read more
Expertise
Asia-Pacific
China-India-Japan triangle
Eurasian “Great Game”
Total Defence
Land-sea power interaction
Military affairs
Conventional forces (especially land forces)
Classic geopolitics in realpolitik
Comparative historical studies
European military history