Second edition Franco-Dutch Defense Talks (FDDT)
How can European states cooperate better in building space domain awareness and ensure continued European freedom of action in the Earth's orbit? These were the central themes of the second edition of the Franco-Dutch Defence Talks hosted on October 7, 2025 by HCSS in partnership with the Embassy of the French Republic to the Netherlands. HCSS welcomed the Ambassador of France His Excellency François Alabrune to open the event.
HCSS Snapshot | Leverage without independence: The Netherlands and the geopolitics of semiconductor chokepoints
A new HCSS paper by Isis Ketelaar and Benedetta Girardi examines Dutch semiconductor export policy from 2019 to 2026, highlighting the balance between cooperation with US export controls and national decision-making autonomy. ASML’s monopoly on the world’s most advanced chipmaking machines gives the Netherlands strategic leverage in US-China competition. However, commercial ties with China, security reliance on the US, American export control laws, and EU regulations constrain its freedom. The study shows how the Netherlands has improved its ability to navigate these limits, offering lessons for smaller powers.
Anna Hoefnagels joins HCSS as new Strategic Analyst
HCSS is pleased that Anna Hoefnagels has joined our team as Strategic Analyst! Her research focuses on geopolitics, shifting international orders, and the interplay between the Indo-Pacific and Europe. On joining Team HCSS, she stated: “As the world becomes increasingly complex, with interconnected challenges involving a growing number of stakeholders, there is a need for analysis that bridges the gap between theory and practice. I look forward to working with and learning from dedicated experts, while contributing to a deeper understanding of an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape.”
