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But we are proud to say that Stephanie Govaerts contributed 223 entries already.
HCSS analyst Irina Patrahau recently took part in the Personalities of the Future Invitation Programme (PIPA), visiting France from 8 to 11 June. The visit enabled Irina to deepen her understanding of France’s strategic and industrial ecosystem and to build connections with key stakeholders working on these issues.
On Thursday September 24, 2026 HCSS invites you for a webinar to introduce DOMINO 2.0, the Dutch Observer for Materials Intelligence and Operations, First introduced in December 2025, and at the Raw Materials Week, DOMINO 2.0 features an enhanced dashboard that makes it easier to monitor supply chain events and identify early warning signals for potential disruptions. Join us for an interactive demonstration of the new and improved dashboard and how it can be used to support policy-relevant geopolitical analysis.
Addressing the current global crisis in peace negotiations, HCSS Chair of Negotiations Dr. Sven Koopmans delivered the keynote at the annual conference of the European Negotiation Association, bringing together scholars and practitioners working across fields ranging from procurement and labour talks to aviation disputes and mergers and acquisitions. Sven will bring his insights and experience to another exclusive HCSS Strategic Negotiations course, and registrations are now open!
After launching its Strategic Negotiations Course in June 2026, HCSS is now welcoming participants for the next edition, taking place from October to November 2026. Designed for professionals operating at the intersection of business, geopolitics, and international affairs, the programme is led by HCSS negotiation specialist Sven Koopmans and supported by Executive Director Paul Sinning, Deputy Director Michel Rademaker, and former Dutch Ambassador and diplomatic advisor Kees and Rij. The programme equips mid- to senior-level executives with the insight, tools, and confidence to navigate high-stakes negotiations across cultures, borders, and sectors.
Nederland wil de productie van drones versnellen, zowel voor defensie als voor civiele toepassingen. Maar hoe sterk is de Nederlandse industrie eigenlijk gepositioneerd om daarin een leidende rol te spelen? In deze analyse onderzoeken Ron Stoop en Rens van Dam hoe de Nederlandse economische structuur zich verhoudt tot die van andere Europese landen. Zij laten zien dat Nederland weliswaar uitblinkt in software, fotonica en hoogwaardige dronecomponenten, maar achterblijft in grootschalige productiecapaciteit. De auteurs betogen dat Nederland daarom moet kiezen: investeren in een sterkere eigen industriële basis of zich strategisch positioneren als gespecialiseerde partner binnen Europese dronewaardeketens.
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.
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