HCSS Snapshot | Leverage without independence: The Netherlands and the geopolitics of semiconductor chokepoints
A new HCSS paper by Isis Ketelaar and Benedetta Girardi examines Dutch semiconductor export policy from 2019 to 2026, highlighting the balance between cooperation with US export controls and national decision-making autonomy. ASML’s monopoly on the world’s most advanced chipmaking machines gives the Netherlands strategic leverage in US-China competition. However, commercial ties with China, security reliance on the US, American export control laws, and EU regulations constrain its freedom. The study shows how the Netherlands has improved its ability to navigate these limits, offering lessons for smaller powers.
Leverage without independence: The Netherlands and the geopolitics of semiconductor chokepoints
A new HCSS paper by Isis Ketelaar and Benedetta Girardi examines Dutch semiconductor export policy from 2019 to 2026, highlighting the balance between cooperation with US export controls and national decision-making autonomy. ASML’s monopoly on the world’s most advanced chipmaking machines gives the Netherlands strategic leverage in US-China competition. However, commercial ties with China, security reliance on the US, American export control laws, and EU regulations constrain its freedom. The study shows how the Netherlands has improved its ability to navigate these limits, offering lessons for smaller powers.
Jesse Kommandeur | HCSS Datalab’s DOMINO showcased at 2026 STEPI Intelligence Dialogue in South Korea
Jesse Kommandeur, Manager of HCSS Datalab, showcased DOMINO at the 2026 STEPI Intelligence Dialogue in Seoul, South Korea. The event brought together international experts to explore how science and technology intelligence can support strategic decision-making amid growing geopolitical tensions. DOMINO demonstrates how artificial intelligence can help analysts keep track of developments across complex supply chains. Discussions also highlighted technological interdependencies and international cooperation. The dialogue underscored the need to develop intelligence tools collaboratively, turning complex data into actionable insights for decision-makers.
