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Recent incursions by Russian vessels and the sabotage of underwater power and internet cables have exposed critical vulnerabilities in NATO countries’ infrastructure. In preparation for the NATO Summit, TNO and HCSS, in close cooperation with the Dutch Ministries of Defence and Infrastructure & Water Management, organised an exclusive Seminar on Seabed Security, on March 27. As a follow-up, HCSS asked several experts to contribute a guest paper.
Happy 18th Anniversary to the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies! Since 2007, our incredible team has been working hard to deliver fact-based analysis of the challenges our societies face, in order to inform public discourse, public and private strategic decision making and contribute to international and national security in accordance with liberal democratic values. In 2025, our work is now more important now than ever before – here’s to many more years of HCSS making an impact!
Europe’s military supply chains are too fragile, fragmented, and opaque for today’s security environment—putting its Rearmament Plan at risk. While policymakers focus on boosting defence investments, a critical blind spot remains: securing the midstream of military supply chains. Without transparency and resilience in sourcing key components, European defence readiness is vulnerable to disruption. Read the latest HCSS op-ed by analysts Irina Patrahau and Benedetta Girardi on why Europe must urgently strengthen its defence supply networks.
The latest HCSS report examines the precarious state of the international nuclear order and the challenges Europe faces as U.S. security guarantees become increasingly uncertain. With arms control agreements collapsing and the return of transactional U.S. alliances, European nations must explore alternative deterrence strategies. This report by Davis Ellison, Samuel Zilincik, and Tim Sweijs outlines six potential pathways for strengthening European security, from nuclear-sharing to strategic conventional weapons.
The security landscape is shifting rapidly, with new alliances forming and global tensions rising. How should international partners respond to these changes? Join policymakers and experts at the HCSS “ROK-NL Forum 2025” on 23 April, to discuss ROK-NATO and security partnerships, AI governance and ethical innovation, and the future of STEM and High-tech industries.
The Mechanics of Chinese Nationalism: In a new article for the Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, HCSS Senior Fellow Friso Stevens analyzes China’s digital nationalism and its role in state control. He explores how online discourse shapes patriotic sentiment, fuels repression, and sustains the Chinese Communist Party’s grip on power. As economic stagnation grows, the risk of public unrest increases—posing a challenge of the party’s own making.
How can Taiwan ensure its defence strategy evolves in time to counter China’s growing military pressure? Over the course of a year-long study, HCSS researchers Benedetta Girardi, Davis Ellison, and Tim Sweijs analysed the campaign in Ukraine, comparing it with Taiwan’s military strategies and defence posture. If one thing is certain, it’s this: Beijing’s calculation will be shaped by whether Taiwan is ready to defend itself. For Taiwan to do so successfully, it will have to learn lessons from the war against Ukraine, a country that failed to deter an attack from a much more powerful neighbor, yet has been able to successfully defend itself since.
Oorlogen en conflicten hebben een directe invloed op de georganiseerde misdaad. De verwevenheid van sommige staten met de georganiseerde misdaad speelt daar een belangrijke rol in. Hoe kunnen we dat aanpakken? Dat hoor je in deze aflevering van BNR podcast De Strateeg, waarin Paul van Liempt vragen van luisteraars bespreekt met Laura Jasper, strategisch analist bij HCSS, en met Tom Driessen, voormalig hoofd van de nationale recherche.
Op 12 maart 2025 organiseerde HCSS in samenwerking met VNO-NCW en het Ministerie van Defensie de Defense Industry Day, een pre-event van de NAVO-top die op 24 en 25 juni in Den Haag zal plaatsvinden. Toonaangevende experts, beleidsmakers en het bedrijfsleven kwamen samen om te discussiëren over het opschalen van defensie-inspanningen en samenwerken aan een veerkrachtige industrie.
Save the date: The International Conference on Water, Peace, and Security is happening on 27-28 October, 2025! Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, and online, the conference will focus on the theme “Water as a catalyst for peace and cooperation.” The conference will bring together key stakeholders to explore the challenges and solutions to water insecurity in the context of sustainable peace and development.
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