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But we are proud to say that Stephanie Govaerts contributed 218 entries already.
HCSS Strategic Analyst Friso Stevens has published a new peer-reviewed article in Comparative Strategy examining how the ideas of Sunzi and the Seven Military Classics continue to shape Chinese strategic culture. The study argues that the Chinese way of war is best understood as strategically defensive and tactically offensive, offering new insights into contemporary debates on China’s approach to conflict and the use of force.
HCSS has won an Honorable Mention at ACL 2026 in San Diego, the world’s leading Natural Language Processing conference, for GENOME, a new method that uses Large Language Models to map geopolitical events from global news, capturing both conflict and cooperation with unusual precision. Developed by the HCSS Datalab, the award-winning method is the foundation for what comes next: later this year, HCSS will launch the GENOME platform, a public interface turning global news into a living map of how states interact. Sign up for early access.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is often portrayed as incompatible with US alliance commitments, limiting its consideration within NATO. This analysis challenges that assumption, arguing that the experiences of US allies such as New Zealand and the Philippines demonstrate that support for the TPNW need not undermine alliance obligations. At a time of growing uncertainty over extended deterrence, Davis Ellison explores how the treaty could strengthen non-proliferation efforts while prompting a more pragmatic debate about the future relationship between nuclear disarmament and alliance security.
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) co-hosted a high-level side event during the NATO Summit in Ankara. The panel: ‘Mind the Gap: Can Europe Build a More European NATO?’ brought together senior military, diplomatic, and industry leaders to examine Europe’s evolving role within the Alliance.
The international order is fragmenting, but small and middle powers (SMPs) are not powerless. A new HCSS report by Benedetta Girardi, Stephanie Govaerts, Noemie Jacq, Sven Koopmans and Tim Sweijs sets out four strategic options for SMPs and argues that flexible, issue-specific coalitions offer the most promising path for protecting rules, strengthening resilience and shaping future governance. The report also lays out five key recommendations for the governments of SMPs.
A new HCSS and China Knowledge Network (CKN) report by Benedetta Girardi and Hans Horan examines how Chinese foreign interference affects Dutch strategic industries, including semiconductors, maritime industries, and aerospace. Watch their interview and report presentation here.
Just days before the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, HCSS strategic analyst Davis Ellison joined a study tour of Estonia to gain first-hand insight into security on NATO’s eastern flank. From military exercises at Tapa and the border city of Narva to discussions with senior Estonian officials, journalists and security experts, the visit highlighted how deterrence, resilience and regional cooperation shape daily life on Europe’s frontier with Russia. It also offered a stark reminder of what is ultimately at stake in defending the Alliance’s eastern border.
A new HCSS and China Knowledge Network (CKN) report by Benedetta Girardi and Hans Horan examines how Chinese foreign interference affects Dutch strategic industries, including semiconductors, maritime industries, and aerospace. The study finds that interference activities form part of a long-term systemic strategy and calls for a more coordinated, resilience-based approach to protecting Dutch economic and technological security.
Hi, my name is Noemie! I am originally from a small village in Bretagne (France) but I have been living in the Netherlands for the past 5 years. Prior to the internship, I had very little experience in working in the field. It was important for me to get work experience before starting my masters, and I couldn’t be happier after my time at HCSS!
So what’s it like, being an intern at HCSS? From California to The Hague, Ethan Mansfield joined HCSS to put his academic knowledge of international relations into practice. During his internship, he contributed to projects on hybrid threats, nuclear deterrence and critical underwater infrastructure, while attending conferences, industry interviews and site visits. Working alongside HCSS analysts gave him first-hand insight into policy research and helped him develop the practical skills needed to bridge the gap between theory and the realities of international security.
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