Last week, HCSS Director of Research Dr Tim Sweijs visited India at the invitation of the Indian Navy, underscoring the growing importance of closer ties between Europe, the Netherlands and one of the world’s key rising powers.
Dr Sweijs delivered a series of lectures at the Naval War College (NWC) in Goa, the Indian Navy’s premier institution for higher military education and maritime research. His engagement with senior officers and future naval leadership took place at a time when India’s strategic weight is rapidly increasing amid intensifying great power competition.
In today’s shifting geopolitical landscape, India has become a pivotal player. As Asian economies continue to grow and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific evolves, constructive engagement between India and European partners is increasingly essential. Exchanges between experts and practitioners on both sides help build mutual understanding, sharpen strategic thinking and identify opportunities for longer-term cooperation.
During his visit, Dr Sweijs lectured senior officer staff on three core themes:
- Middle and Rising Power Defence Planning in an Age of Disruption, focusing on how states can adapt their defence planning to technological, geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
- Understanding the Adversary: Strategic Empathy and Biases, exploring analytical approaches to better comprehend the intentions, capabilities and behaviour of competitors and challengers.
- Risk Assessment and Defence Posturing, including practical exercises to assess strategic risks and identify appropriate defence responses.
The programme also included a meeting with Rear Admiral Arjun Dev Nair, as well as extensive discussions with Indian counterparts on potential avenues for future collaboration. Conversations with officers who are expected to form the future senior brass of the Indian Navy highlighted a shared interest in long-term strategic dialogue and knowledge exchange.
HCSS Europe in the Indo-Pacific
This visit directly connects to HCSS’s ongoing research programme Europe in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific has emerged as the new epicentre of geopolitical competition, driven by the growth of Asian economies and, in particular, the rise of the People’s Republic of China. Just as the struggle over Europe shaped the 20th century, the contest over the future of Asia is likely to define the 21st century.
As European countries pursue their own tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, questions remain about what specific role they should play. The HCSS Europe in the Indo-Pacific programme facilitates exchanges like these by building an international knowledge network of experts, practitioners, business representatives and journalists across Europe, South, East and Southeast Asia, East Africa, the Middle East and the United States, with a particular focus on the future of the maritime commons.
Dr Sweijs’ visit to India illustrates the value of sustained engagement with Indo-Pacific partners and reflects HCSS’s commitment to fostering informed dialogue on the region’s strategic future.
Experts
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