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Thijs van Aken joins HCSS as new Strategic Analyst

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HCSS is pleased to announce that Thijs van Aken has joined our team as a Strategic Analyst! Thijs: “I’m excited to continue working at HCSS in my new role as Strategic Analyst. The changing and dynamic international order asks for research-informed discussions about the future of European security. HCSS is a leading institution contributing facts-based knowledge to policymakers and publics in Europe and beyond. Alongside international security issues, I’m eager to bridge the gap between geopolitical trends and national security questions related to societal resilience, radicalisation and extremism.”

New Snapshot | Uncharted Waters: Two Opportunities for Water and Security in Syria’s Reconstruction

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Control over water has become an entrenched part of strategic considerations for groups governing Syria, both due to the role played by water infrastructure in projecting power across the Syrian territory, and the fact that irrigation is currently the ‘sine qua non’ of food self-sufficiency ambitions. As Syria enters a reconstruction phase, how can the HTS-led transitional government use water governance to contribute to peace and stability in Syria? Our newest snapshot by Benedetta Benzoni tries to answer this question.

Looking back at the AI Action Summit with Sofia Romansky

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Earlier this week HCSS Strategic Analyst Sofia Romansky spoke at the ‘Military Talks’, an event organised alongside the AI Action Summit. The panel she was on covered ‘Issues related to the development of AI in the military field’. Hear what Sofia had to say about the event and what her key takeaways were.

Fiona De Cuyper joins HCSS as new Strategic Analyst

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HCSS is pleased to announce that Fiona De Cuyper has joined our team as a Strategic Analyst! Fiona: “Understanding our increasingly complex and unpredictable world requires interdisciplinary thinking that connects historical insights with data-driven, forward-looking analysis. At HCSS, I’m eager to learn from and work alongside a team of dedicated experts to bridge the gap between data, strategy, and actionable policy in an era of uncertainty.”

Interview with Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev on The Baltic Defence Line

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On January 15, 2025 HCSS had the honour to host the Dutch Minister of Defence and his 3 his three colleagues from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well 3 defence experts from the visiting Allies. HCSS Strategic Analyst Davis Ellison briefly spoke to one of the military panelists, Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev from the Estonain Defence Forces just after the event. They discussed preparedness during peace time, Estonian preparations, coordination efforts between the three Baltic states, lessons learned from the Ukrainian armed forces and being ready for new threats. Watch the full interview here.

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