The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

HCSS is a knowledge institute that conducts independent research. Our goal is to offer fact-based analysis of the challenges that our societies face in order to inform public discourse, public and private strategic decision making and contribute to international and national security in accordance with liberal democratic values.

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Latest Research

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Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: Efforts to Lift the EU’s Yellow Card: Assessing Vietnam’s Legal Response to IUU Fishing
In a new HCSS guest paper, Pham Ngoc Minh Trang examines how Vietnam’s long-running EU IUU “yellow card” — driven by gaps in vessel monitoring, enforcement, and traceability — continues to carry economic and reputational costs despite significant post-2017 legal reforms. As key shortcomings persist, especially in monitoring small-scale vessels and ensuring continuous VMS transmission, the paper outlines where EU–Vietnam cooperation remains essential. It highlights how European expertise and joint initiatives — from legal dialogue and VMS anomaly training to pilot tracking programmes — can help close remaining capacity gaps, support sustainable fisheries governance, and advance Vietnam’s compliance efforts in the South China Sea context.

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Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: EU-Philippines Cooperative Maritime Measures
In a new HCSS guest paper, Charmaine Misalucha-Willoughby examines how the South China Sea’s highly contested maritime space is becoming more complex as geopolitical tensions rise and environmental pressures deepen. As Europe and the Philippines expand cooperation in information sharing, capacity building, and maritime domain awareness, the paper highlights remaining challenges and shows how dual-use technologies can help close the gap between existing commitments and operational needs.

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

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Response and Resilience: Government Strategies for Securing Subsea Infrastructure in Europe and Asia
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.

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HCSS Focus | Complot in context
Deze HCSS Focus onderzoekt hoe Nederlanders alternatieve verklaringen (of, negatief geformuleerd: ‘complottheorieën') voor maatschappelijke gebeurtenissen beoordelen. We kijken naar psychologische en sociaal-economische factoren, digitale platformdynamieken en de manier waarop mensen informatiebronnen gebruiken. Het rapport maakt onderscheid tussen verschillende soorten narratieven en meerdere plausibiliteitsniveaus. Het biedt geen beleidsrichtingen, maar laat zien hoe divers en gelaagd dit landschap is — en hoe belangrijk transparantie, mediageletterdheid en institutionele kwaliteit zijn voor maatschappelijke stabiliteit.

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Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: Navigating Great Power Rivalry through Maritime Cooperation
In a new HCSS guest paper, Shafiah F. Muhibat explores how great power rivalry and daily grey zone encounters are reshaping security dynamics in the South China Sea, putting Indonesia on the frontline and challenging Europe’s ability to uphold the rules-based order. As the EU navigates limited geopolitical bandwidth, the paper outlines a focused, non-escalatory approach to maritime cooperation — from targeted joint training and legal capacity-building to enhanced maritime domain awareness — offering a realistic path to mitigating grey zone tensions without amplifying great power competition.

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December 12, 2025

Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: Efforts to Lift the EU’s Yellow Card: Assessing Vietnam’s Legal Response to IUU Fishing

December 12, 2025

Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: EU-Philippines Cooperative Maritime Measures

December 12, 2025

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

December 11, 2025

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

December 9, 2025

HCSS Focus | Complot in context

December 9, 2025

Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: Navigating Great Power Rivalry through Maritime Cooperation

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Trending Topics

Find out what we are currently working on.

Europe in the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the new epicentre of geopolitical competition. Europe has begun its own tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, yet it remains unclear what specific role Europeans should play. The HCSS “Europe in the Indo-Pacific Hub (EIPH)” brings together scholars, experts and practitioners across Europe, Asia, as well as East-Africa and the US.

Latest Research

December 12, 2025

Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: Efforts to Lift the EU’s Yellow Card: Assessing Vietnam’s Legal Response to IUU Fishing

December 12, 2025

Bridging Waters Guest Paper Series: EU-Philippines Cooperative Maritime Measures

December 11, 2025

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

Deterrence and Arms Control

Questions of deterrence and arms control have become more complicated over the past decade, driven by intensified geopolitical competition in Asia and Europe, by emerging technologies, or refinements in existing technologies. Today, the arms control regime of the Cold War is in trouble. How Europe can shape a reinvigorated arms control regime is a question which HCSS seeks to answer in our Deterrence and Arms Control programme.

Latest Research

September 9, 2025

Blinded By Bias: Western Policymakers and Their Perceptions of Russia before 24 February 2022

August 8, 2025

The Four (not so noble) Truths about Nuclear Governance

June 12, 2025

Deterrence Warning Messages: A Short Guide for NATO

Energy & Raw Materials

The energy transition is changing the architecture of economies by replacing the traditional fuels with new energy carriers. In this transition period, balancing the conventional energy system with the low-carbon one presents challenges for governments and companies alike. HCSS seeks to understand, analyse and address pressing geo-economic and geopolitical issues induced by the energy transition, such as the need for critical raw materials.

Latest Research

November 26, 2025

European Military Fuel Readiness: The Role of Alternative Fuels in Military Logistics

November 19, 2025

HCSS Draghi Revisited Report Series | Expert Commentary

November 18, 2025

Propelling Green Ambitions: Policy Cycles and Priorities in China and the Netherlands

a moped with 2 passengers drives through the water

Climate & Security

The Climate & Security Program (CASP) is HCSS’ response to the urgent and ever increasing need for a better understanding of the most pressing geopolitical and security implications of climate change. CASP seeks to bridge the gap between researchers, policymakers and practitioners working on climate-related security challenges in Europe and around the world.

Latest Research

October 6, 2025

WPS Policy Brief | Addressing Water-related Security Challenges in Fragile Settings: Opportunities and Limitations for Defence and Security Actors

July 17, 2025

Uncovering the Climate – Conflict Link: Mapping the Causal Pathways in Iraq

July 7, 2025

Veiligheid in een Verhitte Wereld: Klimaatverandering en Maatschappelijke Stabiliteit

Strategic Monitor

In order to remain on top of the rapid changes in the international environment, the Dutch MFA and MoD have tasked HCSS and the Clingendael Institute to conduct research within the framework of the Strategic Monitor.

Latest Research

December 2, 2025

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

September 9, 2025

Blinded By Bias: Western Policymakers and Their Perceptions of Russia before 24 February 2022

June 12, 2025

Deterrence Warning Messages: A Short Guide for NATO

Strategic Technologies

HCSS produces data-driven research at the intersection of security and the Emerging Technologies shaping our future, such as semiconductors, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, cyber, robotics, biotechnology and photonics.

Latest Research

November 28, 2025

Dag van Progress 2025 | Key Takeaways HCSS & Clingendael

November 19, 2025

HCSS Draghi Revisited Report Series | Expert Commentary

November 18, 2025

Propelling Green Ambitions: Policy Cycles and Priorities in China and the Netherlands

About The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

HCSS conducts research on geopolitical, defence & security issues to governments, international institutions and businesses. We combine broad conceptual knowledge, qualitative and quantitative methods and present our findings in the form of recommendations, strategic explorations and scenario analyses.

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