Nicolai specializes in global security and defence, with core interests in European security, NATO, and the Indo-Pacific, especially Japan. He currently works as an intern in the Eastern Neighbourhood team at the European Institute of Peace, supporting projects on Ukraine and the broader region. He is currently pursuing an MA in Global Security & Strategy at the Brussels School of Governance and has previously worked in strategic communications for an NGO promoting Norway–India relations. Having lived in five countries, including the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Japan, Nicolai brings an adaptable, globally informed perspective to foreign, security, and defense policy work.