Nicolai specializes in European, NATO, and Indo-Pacific security and defence affairs, with a particular interest in Europe’s strategic relationship with Japan and in multilateral cooperation. He holds an MA in Global Security & Strategy from the Brussels School of Governance and has professional experience in policy support and strategic communications in international and NGO settings. He most recently completed an internship with the European Institute of Peace, where he worked in the Eastern Neighbourhood team supporting projects related to Ukraine and the wider region. Having lived and worked across five countries, Nicolai brings an adaptable, internationally oriented perspective shaped by cross-regional academic and professional experience. His work focuses on how security institutions and strategic partnerships adapt to shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly in the context of European and transatlantic security and defence policy.