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Entries by Stephanie Govaerts

New Report: Responding to China’s Hybrid Threats: Strategic Postures for Small and Middle Powers 

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The new HCSS report ‘Responding to China’s Hybrid Threats: Strategic Postures for Small and Middle Powers’ analyses how the People’s Republic of China deploys hybrid threats against small and middle powers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Based on an original database, it shows why ad-hoc responses are insufficient and introduces a framework to help states develop more coherent strategic postures towards Chinese hybrid pressure.

New Report: Industrial Open Strategic Autonomy in the Indo-Pacific: Focusing on high-tech industrial innovation and supply chain security

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How can countries strengthen economic security without sacrificing openness? This new HCSS–KIEP edited volume by Benedetta Girardi and Young-ook Jang examines how South Korea and the Netherlands can advance open strategic autonomy through cooperation in high-tech innovation and supply-chain security. Focusing on semiconductors, quantum technology, energy, and critical raw materials, the edited volume shows how middle powers can build resilience through partnership—not decoupling.

The HCSS Datalab presents: GINA Diplomatic 2.0

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GINA Diplomatic is the first tool released from our Geopolitical Interactive Network Analysis (GINA) series. This tool focuses on diplomatic engagement across the globe by analyzing and comparing voting behavior, speech mentions, and diplomatic visists on an international dyadic level. Building on the Geopolitical Interactive Network Analysis (GINA) series introduced late 2024, HCSS is rolling out GINA 2.0 in early 2026. This new generation of GINA tools features improved analytical methods, enhanced accessibility, expanded data coverage, and a more consistent analytical framework across domains, strengthening its value for policy-relevant geopolitical analysis.

SANCS26 is now open for Registration!

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SANCS is back for 2026! The third edition will be taking place from March 2nd – April 10th, 2026 and registration is now officially open! We hope to welcome even more participants than we did last year, so register quick to secure your spot. This online Cyber Security school caters to postgraduate students and young to mid-career professionals interested in cybersecurity matters, specifically those based in Southern Africa or the Netherlands.

Bridging Waters Paper Series | Six examples of a threat-based, regional-specific approach

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For a new paper series, six guest authors explore key aspects of maritime security cooperation between Europe and rising middle powers. Each author presents the perspective of a different littoral state, specifically Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea region, and Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea. The series builds on insights from the report ‘Bridging Waters: Strengthening Europe’s Maritime Security Engagement Through Partnerships with Rising Middle Powers’ and the webinar Bridging Waters: Middle Powers’ Cooperation on Maritime Security, held on 18 November.

New report | Response and Resilience: Government Strategies for Securing Subsea Infrastructure in Europe and Asia   

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HCSS and RSIS have released a new joint report analysing threats to critical undersea infrastructure in Europe and Asia. The study highlights the results of a workshop held in Singapore in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and outlines key vulnerabilities, highlights legal and monitoring gaps, and proposes a shared Singapore–Netherlands agenda to strengthen detection, resilience, and international cooperation.

New report | Bridging Waters: Strengthening Europe’s Maritime Security Engagement Through Partnerships with Rising Middle Powers    

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In a new report ‘Bridging Waters: Strengthening Europe’s Maritime Security Engagement Through Partnerships with Rising Middle Powers,’ Benedetta Girardi and Pieter-Jan Vandoren explore how Europe can strengthen maritime security in the South China Sea and Red Sea through cooperation with rising middle powers. The study outlines urgent threats, identifies high-value preventive and responsive measures, and presents an actionable agenda for European policymakers.

New report | Assessing Europe’s Resilience and Preparedness in an Era of Strategic Risks   

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Europe’s resilience is still situational, not systemic, concludes a new joint HCSS and CSDS report. The report finds that Europe’s ability to withstand hybrid shocks remains uneven, with civil–military cooperation and military mobility emerging as critical vulnerabilities. The authors propose concrete EU–NATO and Dutch recommendations to strengthen energy, transport and digital resilience, and argue that true deterrence now depends on treating resilience as a core strategic capability.

The HCSS Datalab presents: DOMINO, the Dutch Observer for Materials Intelligence and Operations

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the HCSS Datalab proudly presents the Dutch Observer for Materials Intelligence and Operations (DOMINO) dashboard, a tool that provides a near real-time synthesis of global events that impact critical raw material supply chains. It enables decision-makers and industry stakeholders to understand potential domino effects, where a single change can trigger a cascade of consequences that affect supply chain security. Developed with support from the Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO).

HCSS at Raw Materials Week 2025 and more

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A HCSS delegation was present at the 10th edition of Raw Materials Week consisting of Michel Rademaker, Irina Patrahau and Jesse Kommandeur. The EU Raw Materials Week is an annual event organised by the European Commission. The 2025 edition took place in Brussels form 17-21 November. It gathers over 1000 stakeholders from governments, industry, civil society, academia and research to discuss policies and initiatives in the field of raw materials in the EU and globally.

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