Michel Don Michaloliákos is co-founder of The Hague Institute for Geopolitics (HIG). As a geopolitical and geo-economic analyst (Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean and Red Sea region), he shares his analyses in the GeopolitiekNu-podcast, in articles, and in lectures. Through masterclasses and consultancy, he helps policymakers and businesses. He can be booked as a speaker and conference chair via HIG and Sprekershuys. He is a regular guest in the media, including Nieuwsuur, Eva Jinek, Nieuwsweekend, RTL, and NRC.

Mission: anchoring the Netherlands and Europe more firmly
‘Anchoring the Netherlands and Europe more firmly in the new world order is what drives me most deeply. That is why HIG was founded. Countries are too often portrayed as unitary actors, which causes analyses to fall short. We seek to link in-depth geopolitical analyses to concrete courses of action for the Netherlands and Europe. We recognise the layered nature of countries, governments, and developments, and the great importance of in-depth economic and regional knowledge.’

Distinctive strength: commensurability through four pillars
‘HIG sets itself apart through enthusiasm, dedication, and entrepreneurship. While our mission forms our foundation, our activities centre on four pillars. The first is research, to give our analyses depth and fresh insights. The second consists of our media activities, such as articles on our website, the GeopolitiekNu and Breuklijn podcasts, and our contributions to mainstream media. The third is consultancy, through which we help companies and governments translate geopolitical developments into the day-to-day practice of their organisation. The fourth comprises our diplomatic services to embassies, which we help find their way in the Netherlands. In this way, we bring together worlds that do not speak each other’s language – in other words, we provide commensurability.’

His central argument? The Third Way of the middle powers
Early on, Michel Don Michaloliákos called on Europe to take the Third Way. ‘There is a clear way forward for the Netherlands and Europe: the Third Way of the multilateral democratic middle powers. We must forge strategic partnerships with (democratic) middle powers and, in doing so, save multilateralism. That way, we can offer the world a better alternative to the aggressive unilateralism of the US and China.’

Abroad: India, South Korea, and Armenia
Michel Don Michaloliákos is also active abroad.

• Yerevan Dialogues, Armenia (May 2026). Participant in the Yerevan Dialogues, which, under the motto ‘Riding through the storm’, examined the country’s geopolitical metamorphosis since 2023.
• Kautilya Fellow Program (KFP), India Foundation (2025). A one-year programme on India’s geopolitical strategy, foreign policy, and economy, including a working visit to Delhi in May 2025. Capped by his election as Distinguished Kautilya Fellow 2025.
• Emerging Leaders Fellowship (ELF), South Korea (July 2025). An in-depth programme on the complex geopolitical situation of the Korean peninsula, featuring lectures, visits to the demilitarised zone (DMZ), and conversations with North Korean refugees.

Media appearances

NOS
📅 21 juli 2026
Oil tanker from Dutch shipping company turns over in Red Sea. Another strait blockade?

Nieuwsuur
📅 21 juli 2026
Houthis block Bab-al-Mandab

NOS Journaal – NPO Radio 1
📅24 june 2026
Strait of Hormuz closed for 100 days, “we are on the brink of an even bigger crisis”

De Wereld Vandaag – VRT Radio 1
📅19 june 2026
The World Today

Dit is de Dag – NPO Radio 1
📅17 june 2026
Will the Iran-U.S. peace deal lead to a new balance of power on the world stage?

Bureau Buitenland – NPO Radio 1
📅16 june 2026
A Divided West Seeks Unity at the G7 Summit

Nieuwsweekend – NPO Radio 1
📅13 june 2026
Geopolitical Power Shuffle in the Middle East

NOS
📅8 june 2026
“He has no say in the matter,” says Trump of Netanyahu, but is that really the case?

NOS
📅6 june 2026
Strait of Hormuz closed for 100 days, “we are on the brink of an even bigger crisis”

Nieuwsuur
📅5 june 2026
100 days of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

NOS
📅31 may 2026
Why ‘the worst energy crisis ever’ hasn’t happened (yet)

NPO Radio 1 – Nieuwsweekend
📅23 may 2026
This is what the U.S.’s shift in NATO policy really means

NRC
📅22 may 2026
The train to China, the ship to Russia: these are Iran’s alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz

Nieuwsuur NOS
📅10 may 2026
Iran is using the war to drive a wedge between the Gulf states, ‘with success’

RTL Nieuws
📅1 may 2026
Will Trump’s pressure strategy work? ‘Iran can hold out for a very long time

NOS
📅1 may 2026
Why the United Arab Emirates is (now officially) breaking with the powerful oil cartel OPEC.

Nu.nl
📅30 april 2026
With €90 billion in support, the EU is investing in becoming a military power.

Nieuwsuur
📅29 april 2026
Fire in the Veluwe

NPO RADIO 1 – Bureau Buitenland
📅10 april 2026
The Common Thread on Friday

NPO – Bureau Buitenland
📅8 april 2026
Ceasefire, now what?

EVA
📅24 march 2026
Current events, legal issues, and culture at the table

NOS Radio 1 Journaal
📅18 march 2026
France, Italy, and “Med9” send an urgent letter to the European Commission regarding “Artic Metagaz”

Radio 1 – Dit is de Dag
📅16 march 2026
Help the US in the Strait of Hormuz

Nu.nl
📅13 march 2026
War with Iran is looming ever closer for a hesitant Europe

EVA
📅10 march 2026
A closer look at this week’s news

NOS
📅10 march 2026
The global oil crisis has its winners and losers

Nieuwsuur
📅9 march 2026
Gas and oil prices are rising rapidly

Nieuwsuur
📅2 march 2026
Iran’s Power and Influence

NOS
📅2 march 2026
Fire near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai following a drone attack

Brusselse Nieuwe
📅18 february 2026
EU Unveils 20th Round of Sanctions Against Russia; Strict Enforcement Is Essential

Nu.nl
📅30 january 2026
New coalition sees Europe as an antidote to Trump’s America

NPO Radio 1 – De Nacht van…
📅26 january 2026
France intercepts suspected Russian oil tanker: what does the interception of ships mean?

NPO Radio 1 – Nieuwsweekend
📅13 december 2025
Europe finally wakes up to U.S. security strategy

Nu.nl
📅 7 december 2025
U.S. Security Strategy Strains Relations with Europe: ‘An Attack on Society’

Nu.nl
📅 22 november 2025
Does Trump really call all the shots when it comes to Ukraine? ‘Europe needs to show some backbone’

BNR Nieuwsradio – Make Europe Great Again
📅 18 november 2025
About Amazon mud and a little Greek gas man

NPO Radio 1 – De Nacht van…
📅 17 november 2025
156 Years of the Suez Canal: “Still a Hotspot”

NRC
📅 27 october 2025
After the geopolitical debate, the conversation inevitably turns to the housing market

Nu.nl
📅 30 september 2025
Shipping companies face a choice: danger in the Red Sea or a 6,500-kilometer detour

Nu.nl
📅 18 september 2025
Europe’s pro-Israel stance under pressure: EU makes a fool of itself

Nu.nl
📅 19 august 2025
Zelensky survives the White House, but Putin is the winner of the weekend

Nu.nl
📅 13 august 2025
Unity at Ukraine summit: “Trump will always discuss border issues with Zelensky”

De Volkskrant
📅 5 august 2025
Trump punishes India for import of Russian oil after failed negotiations

Nu.nl
📅 30 july 2025
More and more sanctions against Israel, but Brussels remains silent: this is why

Nu.nl
📅 25 july 2025
Division in Ukraine: protests are a warning sign for Zelensky

De Volkskrant
📅 15 july 2025
Houthi attacks hinder the return of trade through the Suez Canal

Nieuwsweekend, NPO Radio 1
📅 5 july 2025
Middle East temporarily loses direction due to weakened Iran

Buitenland met Boswijk (Podcast)
📅 21 april 2025
🎧 Title: What role should the Netherlands seize in Europe’s geopolitical coming-of-age?
Listen to episode

De Atlantische Blik (Podcast)
📅 18 april 2025
🎧 Title: A strategy for Europe in the post-transatlantic era
Listen to episode

Nieuwsweekend, NPO Radio 1
📅 12 april 2025
U.S. calls Iran and its nuclear program to account in Oman

Atlantisch Perspectief (Atlantische Commissie)
📅 27 march 2025
The post-transatlantic era offers opportunities for Europe’s Third Way

Trouw
📅 20 march 2025
Open: an elegant hunt for top American scientists

Den Haag Centraal
📅 27 february 2025
Costs and benefits of the NATO summit: international gains, local burdens?

De Africast (Podcast)
📅 3 december 2024
🎧 Title: Fortress Europe begins in Africa: a look into European migration deals
Listen to episode

Mare (Universiteit Leiden)
📅 1 february 2024
Geopolitics is like Game of Thrones