With a long Pentecost weekend ahead, catch up with this week’s HCSS Digest:
- the global chip shortage
- the first Dutch military satellite
- the conflict between Israel and Hamas
- podcasts, webinars, internships and more!
The Netherlands and the EU are highly dependent on China for certain critical raw materials. Next week, HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau will be speaking on how to overcome this dependence in a KNGMG symposium on critical minerals and metals for new energy – register now!
If the cabinet does not take immediate action to reduce dependence on foreign technology, the Netherlands is in danger of losing its grip on internet security, Rob de Wijk commented in het Financieele Dagblad on the need for digital autonomy.
Join HCSS strategic analyst Dorith Kool on Thursday 17 June, when she will give a presentation on a framework to assess security sector’s potential contribution to stability, during a webinar on Security Sector Reform.
How do we deal with the global chip shortage that, according to manufacturers, will persist for years to come? What are the political consequences? HCSS data scientist Paul Verhagen discussed the issue on BNR Nieuwsradio’s De Wereld.
The Netherlands will launch its first military satellite in June. But what role can we play in space between major powers such as the US, China & Russia? Find out everything you want to know in this episode of BNR’s De Strateeg, featuring HCSS strategic analyst Patrick Bolder and Jeroen Rotteveel, director of ISISpace and SpaceNed.
“We are late, but a modern armed force also need to utilize the space domain,” HCSS analyst Patrick Bolder commented on BNR Nieuwsradio, about the experimental BRIK II nanosatelite of the Royal Air Force that will launch next month.
Rocketman Bolder was also interviewed by Belgian newspaper De Standaard about the Chinese Mars Rover landing.
Rockets of a different sort also dominated the news this month, as the tensions between Israel and Hamas once again escalated. HCSS director of political affairs Han ten Broeke analyzed the conflict on WNL television several times.
Meanwhile on NOS news, strategic analyst Patrick Bolder explained the advanced air defense system Iron Dome, Israel’s self-designed main defense against the hundreds of missiles: although Israel is militarily and technologically superior and has fewer casualties, by firing hundreds of cheap missiles Hamas hopes to overload Israel’s expensive defense system.
HCSS defense specialist Peter Wijninga also commented on the conflict throughout the week on BNR Nieuwsradio, stating: “These are two parties that have to solve it themselves. But a lot of water will have to flow through the Jordan before that happens.” When news of a possible ceasefire appeared, Wijninga analyzed what Hamas and Israel got out of this latest war on BNR De Wereld.
“With their current leaders, reconciliation between the Israelis and the Palestinians seems a long way off, because they need the conflict to secure their own position”, Rob de Wijk lamented in his weekly column for newspaper Trouw.
A new Ottoman Empire, a Turkey that remains a NATO member but on its own terms – or a Turkey that reconciles with its allies? These three scenarios are explored by HCSS strategic analysts Patrick Bolder and Dorith Kool in Carré, the magazine of the Netherlands Officers Association. A more in-depth analysis of Turkey/NATO politics can be found in their snapshot “Turkey’s Recalcitrance and NATO’s Nuisance.“
This week, NATO hosted its first hybrid threat symposium. HCSS director of research Tim Sweijs gave a key note speech on “Deterring Hybrid Threats – what do we need?”. Other speakers included Mark Galeotti and David van Weel, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges.
In preparation for the NATO2021 conference,the NATO Defense College Foundation recommends the book Future NATO: Adapting to New Realities as mandatory reading. The volume examines how the Alliance can adapt to face the challenges of the 21st century. Tim Sweijs contributed the chapter “Maintaining NATO’s Technological Edge”, together with Frans Osinga.
Liz Cheney isn’t exactly one of the most moderate Republicans, but by claiming that the election was fair, she sidelined herself within her own party. HCSS data scientist and expert on US politics Paul Verhagen spoke to VPRO’s Bureau Buitenland about the impact of this on democracy and the course of the Republican Party in the Foreign Office.
By negotiating trade agreements, the EU is setting a standard that, if adopted by other countries, could have far-reaching consequences for China. In their weekly podcast for BNR Nieuwsradio, Arend Jan Boekestijn and Rob de Wijk speak to professor of international economics Steven Brakman about the battle for the Indo-Pacific.
Are you interested in bringing together the world of cyberspace and international relations and national security? Then the HCSS Cyber Program Internship is just the job for you! Don’t wait, and send your application to our internship coordinator Karlijn Velthuis now!
We are proud to announce that the 2021 Luxemburg Outstanding Environmental Peace Prize has been awarded to the Water Peace & Security (WPS) partnership, a collaboration between the Dutch MFA and a consortium of IHE Delft, WRI, Deltares, HCSS, Wetlands International and International Alert, for its work in the field of addressing water-related security risks.