ATHENA is the Alumni Association of the Graduates from the High Studies Security & Defence, organized by the Royal High Institute for Defence – RHID and Egmont, The Royal Institute for International Relations. The Royal High Institute for Defence (RHID) is a think tank and a forum for discussing matters of Security and Defence. It determines and manages the research programmes of the Belgian Defence Ministry and organizes the programme of Advanced Defence Studies for the higher echelons of the military and public authorities. Egmont - The Royal Institute for International Relations, is an independent think-tank which draws on the expertise of its own research fellows, as well as that of external specialists, to provide analysis and to suggest international policy options. Benefiting from the role of Brussels in the global arena and from the prestigious setting of the Egmont Palace, the Institute offers a forum to visiting Heads of State, Heads of government, representatives of international organisations, foreign ministers and other political figures.