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A delegation from HCSS participated in the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, held on 29–30 October 2025. The delegation, consisting of Deputy Director Michel Rademaker and Strategic Analysts Irina Patrahau and Sofia Romansky, actively contributed to discussions on the Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM) and on Critical Raw Materials.
HCSS is delighted to welcome Dr. Grace Wermenbol as Senior Fellow for International Security and Geopolitics. Dr. Wermenbol brings extensive experience from senior roles across the U.S. government, including the State Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University and the author of A Tale of Two Narratives. Dr. Wermenbol holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and specializes in the geopolitics of the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, and international security.
HCSS is pleased to invite you to join the Water Peace and Security (WPS) 4D Mini-Symposium – From Fragility to Resilience: Engaging Defence and Security Actors in Water Security on 5 November 2025. This event will explore the role of defence and security actors in tackling water-related security challenges. Around the world, security actors are increasingly called upon to respond to climate change–induced disasters and stabilise regions where water risks threaten peace. Yet, integration into broader cross-sectoral efforts remains limited.
HCSS is very pleased to announce that Rens van Dam has joined us as a new Research Scientist. Previously, Rens gained practical experience during his internship at the HCSS DataLab, and later on as a part-time Data Scientist where he contributed to data-driven research and the development of multiple dashboards. On joining HCSS, he commented: “I’m excited to start my work as a Research Scientist at HCSS, using my quantitative and economic background to help understand and address the pressing security issues, such as defence and climate, facing Europe today. These challenges require knowledge-based and informed strategies, and I hope to contribute to developing them at HCSS!”
On 18 September 2025, a delegation from the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) –comprising Benedetta Girardi, Irina Patrahau, Michel Rademaker and Karlijn Velthuis–joined the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) in co-organizing the ROK–NL Think Tank Dialogue on Industrial Open Strategic Autonomy in the Indo-Pacific, held at the Hotel President in Seoul. The event brought together policymakers, scholars, and researchers from both countries to discuss how the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea can jointly strengthen their technological and industrial resilience in an era of growing geopolitical complexity.
HCSS is very pleased to announce that Nidas Brandsma has joined us as a new Data Scientist. Previously, Nidas gained practical experience during his internship at the HCSS DataLab, where he contributed to data-driven research and the development of multiple dashboards On joining HCSS, he commented: “From studying physics and econometrics to joining HCSS, my journey has always been about asking the right questions. Now, I’m excited to apply that mindset to data-driven research in security and geopolitics. It feels like the perfect next step.”
On Wednesday 15 October, HCSS Research Director Dr. Tim Sweijs joined a conversation with Estonia’s former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at De Balie in Amsterdam. Together with moderator Yoeri Albrecht, they discussed Europe’s security challenges now that Russia is increasingly testing the borders of NATO-territory.
The Critical Raw Materials Early Navigation (CARMEN) dashboard, is a tool developed by the HCSS Datalab to help organisations navigate the volatile world of critical raw materials. It brings together near real-time financial, and market data to secure essential materials while minimising exposure to risk. CARMEN contains financial data relating to 87 materials from various sourcing countries such as Australia, Brazil and China, which are updated daily. Discover how CARMEN can strengthen your organisation’s approach to critical raw materials and supply-chain security.
Join the webinar ‘Bridging Waters: Middle Powers’ Cooperation on Maritime Security’ on 18 November 2025 from 10am-12pm online on Microsoft Teams. This webinar will explore opportunities for the Netherlands to collaborate with countries like Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, focusing on securing vital maritime routes and ensuring freedom of navigation. With expert insights from contributors to a new paper series, the event will examine how through the use of preventive and responsive measures, we can enhance security and uphold open international maritime routes.
As global power dynamics shift toward multipolarity, India’s challenge lies not in adaptation, but in shaping the new order. A new HCSS Snapshot, Old Players, New Moves: India’s Strategy in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, explores how India can turn its SCO membership into strategic advantage. Authors Anna Hoefnagels and Benedetta Girardi assess whether the opportunities of SCO membership outweigh its challenges—and how India’s strategic moves today can shape the rules of tomorrow’s global game. The paper identifies three key pathways for India to strengthen its regional role and influence the emerging multipolar order.
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