HCSS in the media | Week 21
Covering topics from geo-economics to energy, from Russia to China: HCSS is happy to share its knowledge and expertise. Our in-house strategic analysts and affiliated subject matter experts are regularly requested to provide commentary and insights on geopolitical and international security matters for national and international media and press.
HCSS at GLOBSEC | Europe’s Pivot: Converting Economic Weight into Geopolitical Clout
On Friday, 22 May, HCSS strategic analysts Irina Patrahau and Benedetta Girardi will co-host the GLOBSEC Forum 2026 side session ‘Europe’s Pivot: Converting Economic Weight into Geopolitical Clout’. The discussion will examine how the EU can strengthen its geoeconomic statecraft amid rising systemic competition, economic coercion, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Particular attention will be given to balancing economic security with market openness, managing escalation risks, and enhancing the credibility of Europe’s geopolitical influence in an increasingly fragmented international environment.
Netherlands Food Partnership | Laura Birkman on the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for global food security
As tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, concerns are growing over the wider implications for global food security. During a recent Netherlands Food Partnership session, experts warned that the crisis could trigger cascading effects across energy, fertiliser, and food systems. Laura Birkman of HCSS highlighted how the Strait functions as a “cascading chokepoint,” where disruptions disproportionately affect countries already facing water scarcity, import dependence, and food insecurity. Her contribution underscored the need to view food security not in isolation, but as deeply connected to energy, trade, climate, and geopolitical resilience.
