Alexander Borum: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:31, 15 August 2025

Alexander Borum (born 29 September 1984, Skive Denmark) is a Danish diplomat, international security specialist, and advocate for early-career development in international affairs. He has extensive experience in European Union crisis management and security policy, focusing on Somalia and the Horn of Africa. He serves as a special advisor in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, responsible for relations with the African Union, the EU-AU partnership as the thematic focal point for peace and security in Africa.

Borum is also the founder of IR Career Starters, a widely recognised platform that provides curated career opportunities, practical guidance, and mentorship resources for students and young professionals entering diplomacy and international security.

Early life and education

Alexander Borum earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a dual major in Political Science and International Relations at Tallinn University (2012–2015). He then obtained an Advanced Master of Science in International Relations and Diplomacy (MIRD) jointly from Leiden University and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael (2015–2017).

In 2022–2023, he completed a Master in International Leadership and Negotiations offered jointly by Universitat Europea de València and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), specialising in multilateral diplomacy, negotiation and ripeness theory.

He has further undertaken professional training with:

European Security and Defence College (ESDC) – Security Sector Governance & Reform, CSDP missions
United States Institute of Peace (USIP) – Conflict Negotiation and Mediation
School of Transnational Governance – Agile Governance
European External Action Service, Inter-American Development Bank, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark – diplomacy, governance, and policy implementation

Professional career

Military service

Alexander Borum served in the Royal Danish Army, initially in the armoured infantry with Jutlands Dragoon Regiment, later in mechanised infantry with *The Prince's Life Regiment*, and finally with *The Logistics Regiment* in combat logistics.

He is a veteran of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), having served a tour of duty in Helmand, Afghanistan in 2010. He later contributed to the Danish Home Guard as an Advisor on Good Governance.

European Union and International Security

From 2020 to 2023, Borum worked with the European External Action Service (EEAS) in crisis management and security policy. Based in Mogadishu, Somalia, he contributed to the European Union’s efforts in supporting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, including engagement with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions.

He focused on policy development, multilateral coordination, and security challenges, bridging European and African security frameworks.

Following his service in Somalia, Borum joined the Policy Leader Fellowship at the European University Institute School of Transnational Governance in Florence, Italy. He focused his research and work on the need for strategic autonomy, a coherent EU security posture in light of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He later joined the EU Institute for Security Studies as a consultant on hybrid threats, focused on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference.

Diplomatic service

In 2025, Borum joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, serving in the Africa, Development Policy, and Financing Department (AFRPOL).

AFRPOL is responsible for Denmark’s foreign, security, and development policies regarding Africa, including engagement with the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, SADC, EAC, and IGAD, as well as European Union partnerships with Africa. Borum is the thematic focal point for peace and security in Africa, working on EU–AU cooperation, regional security initiatives, and policy coherence in development and security.

IR Career Starters

In 2018, Alexander Borum founded IR Career Starters, a free and open-access platform providing:

Monthly lists of internships, traineeships, and fellowships
Practical advice for students and early-career professionals
Career guides for international organisations, diplomacy, and security policy

The newsletter, published on LinkedIn and Substack, has become a widely recognised resource for international relations students, young professionals, and university career centres.

In addition to the newsletter, Borum maintains **IR Career Starters**, a website compiling global career opportunities and guides. He actively engages with early-career professionals through webinars, workshops, and speaking engagements, promoting **accessibility, mentorship, and progression in international careers.

Publications and contributions

Founder and author, IR Career Starters newsletter (2018–present)
Contributor to webinars and career panels on diplomacy and international security
Co-author of practical guides for European Union and international careers

Expertise and public engagement

Borum is recognised for his expertise in:

International security and crisis management
EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
Early-career development in international affairs

He shares insights on professional development in international relations through:

LinkedIn articles and posts
Speaking engagements at universities and career events
Mentoring and advisory activities for early-career professionals

External links

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-'''Alexander Borum''' (born 29 September 1984) is a Danish diplomat, international security specialist, and advocate for early-career development in international affairs. He has extensive experience in European Union crisis management and security policy, focusing on Somalia and the Horn of Africa. He serves as a special advisor in  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, responsible for relations with the African Union, the EU-AU partnership as the thematic focal point for peace and security in Africa.
+'''Alexander Borum''' (born 29 September 1984, Skive Denmark) is a Danish diplomat, international security specialist, and advocate for early-career development in international affairs. He has extensive experience in European Union crisis management and security policy, focusing on Somalia and the Horn of Africa. He serves as a special advisor in  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, responsible for relations with the African Union, the EU-AU partnership as the thematic focal point for peace and security in Africa.
 Borum is also the founder of '''IR Career Starters''', a widely recognised platform that provides curated career opportunities, practical guidance, and mentorship resources for students and young professionals entering diplomacy and international security.
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Military service ===
-Alexander Borum served in the '''Royal Danish Army''', initially in the armoured infantry with '''Jutlands Dragoon Regiment''', later in mechanised infantry with **The Prince's Life Regiment**, and finally with **The Logistics Regiment** in combat logistics.
+Alexander Borum served in the '''Royal Danish Army''', initially in the armoured infantry with '''Jutlands Dragoon Regiment''', later in mechanised infantry with *The Prince's Life Regiment*, and finally with *The Logistics Regiment* in combat logistics.
 He is a veteran of the '''NATO''' '''International Security Assistance Force''' (ISAF), having served a tour of duty in Helmand, Afghanistan in 2010. He later contributed to the '''Danish Home Guard''' as an Advisor on Good Governance.