diff --git a/app/scripts/components/common/card/index.tsx b/app/scripts/components/common/card/index.tsx
index c9b34a2fe..3de3b603d 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/common/card/index.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/common/card/index.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import React, { lazy, MouseEventHandler, ComponentType } from 'react';
 import styled, { css } from 'styled-components';
 import { format } from 'date-fns';
 import { CollecticonExpandTopRight } from '@devseed-ui/collecticons';
-const SmartLink = lazy(() => import('../smart-link'));
 import {
   glsp,
   media,
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   themeVal,
   listReset,
 } from '@devseed-ui/theme-provider';
+const SmartLink = lazy(() => import('../smart-link'));
 
 import { CardBody, CardBlank, CardHeader, CardHeadline, CardTitle, CardOverline } from './styles';
 import HorizontalInfoCard, { HorizontalCardStyles } from './horizontal-info-card';
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ export interface LinkProperties {
 
 export interface LinkWithPathProperties extends LinkProperties {
   linkTo: string;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface CardComponentBaseProps {
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@ export interface CardComponentBaseProps {
 export interface CardComponentPropsDeprecated extends CardComponentBaseProps {
   linkTo: string;
   onLinkClick?: MouseEventHandler;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
 }
 export interface CardComponentProps extends CardComponentBaseProps {
   linkProperties: LinkWithPathProperties;
@@ -287,16 +289,17 @@ function CardComponent(props: CardComponentPropsType) {
     const { linkProperties: linkPropertiesProps } = props;
     linkProperties = linkPropertiesProps;
   } else {
-    const { linkTo, onLinkClick,  } = props;
+    const { linkTo, onLinkClick, isLinkExternal } = props;
     linkProperties = {
       linkTo,
       onLinkClick,
       pathAttributeKeyName: 'to',
-      LinkElement: SmartLink
+      LinkElement: SmartLink,
+      isLinkExternal
     };
   }
 
-  const isExternalLink = /^https?:\/\//.test(linkProperties.linkTo);
+  const isExternalLink = linkProperties.isLinkExternal ?? /^https?:\/\//.test(linkProperties.linkTo);
 
   return (
     <ElementInteractive
@@ -304,6 +307,7 @@ function CardComponent(props: CardComponentPropsType) {
         as: linkProperties.LinkElement,
         [linkProperties.pathAttributeKeyName]: linkProperties.linkTo,
         onLinkClick: linkProperties.onLinkClick,
+        isLinkExternal: isExternalLink
       }}
       as={CardItem}
       cardType={cardType}
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/common/featured-slider-section.tsx b/app/scripts/components/common/featured-slider-section.tsx
index 824d1e2ce..e70a00b15 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/common/featured-slider-section.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/common/featured-slider-section.tsx
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ function FeaturedSliderSection(props: FeaturedSliderSectionProps) {
                       linkProperties={{
                         linkTo: `${d.asLink?.url ?? getItemPath(d)}`,
                         pathAttributeKeyName: 'to',
-                        LinkElement: SmartLink
+                        LinkElement: SmartLink,
+                        isLinkExternal: d.isLinkExternal
                       }}
                       title={d.name}
                       overline={
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/common/related-content.tsx b/app/scripts/components/common/related-content.tsx
index 79fcfbc99..b78e0a9ca 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/common/related-content.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/common/related-content.tsx
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ interface FormatBlock {
   date: string;
   link: string;
   asLink?: LinkContentData;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
   parentLink: string;
   media: Media;
   parent: RelatedContentData['type'];
@@ -151,7 +152,8 @@ export default function RelatedContent(props: RelatedContentProps) {
                 linkProperties={{
                   linkTo: `${t.asLink?.url ?? t.link}`,
                   LinkElement: SmartLink,
-                  pathAttributeKeyName: 'to'
+                  pathAttributeKeyName: 'to',
+                  isLinkExternal: t.isLinkExternal
                 }}
                 title={t.name}
                 date={
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/common/smart-link.tsx b/app/scripts/components/common/smart-link.tsx
index 62c2d61f8..09a5a1f88 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/common/smart-link.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/common/smart-link.tsx
@@ -5,17 +5,18 @@ import { getLinkProps } from '$utils/url';
 
 interface SmartLinkProps {
   to: string;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
   onLinkClick?: ()=> void;
   children?: ReactNode;
 }
 
 /**
- * Switches between a `a` and a `Link` depending on the url.
+ * Switches between a `a` and a `Link` depending on the optional `isLinkExternal` prop or the url.
  */
 export default function SmartLink(props: SmartLinkProps) {
-  const { to, onLinkClick, children, ...rest } = props;
-  const isExternalLink = /^https?:\/\//.test(to);
-  const linkProps = getLinkProps(to, undefined, onLinkClick);
+  const { to, isLinkExternal, onLinkClick, children, ...rest } = props;
+  const isExternalLink = isLinkExternal ?? /^https?:\/\//.test(to);
+  const linkProps = getLinkProps(to, isLinkExternal, undefined, onLinkClick);
 
   return isExternalLink ? (
     <a {...linkProps} {...rest}> {children} </a>
@@ -27,14 +28,15 @@ export default function SmartLink(props: SmartLinkProps) {
 
 interface CustomLinkProps {
   href: string;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
- * For links defined as markdown, this component will open the external link in a new tab.
+ * For links defined as markdown, this component will open the external link in a new tab depending on the optional `isLinkExternal` prop or the url.
  */
 export function CustomLink(props: CustomLinkProps) {
-  const { href, ...rest } = props;
-  const isExternalLink = /^https?:\/\//.test(href);
+  const { href, isLinkExternal, ...rest } = props;
+  const isExternalLink = isLinkExternal ?? /^https?:\/\//.test(href);
   const linkProps = getLinkProps(href);
   return isExternalLink ? (
       <a {...linkProps} {...rest} />
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/home/featured-stories.tsx b/app/scripts/components/home/featured-stories.tsx
index a8bb557a7..23d1c1f23 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/home/featured-stories.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/home/featured-stories.tsx
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ function FeaturedStories() {
                     linkProperties={{
                       linkTo: `${d.asLink?.url ?? getStoryPath(d)}`,
                       LinkElement: SmartLink,
-                      pathAttributeKeyName: 'to'
+                      pathAttributeKeyName: 'to',
+                      isLinkExternal: d.isLinkExternal
                     }}
                     title={d.name}
                     tagLabels={[getString('stories').one]}
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/sandbox/cards/index.js b/app/scripts/components/sandbox/cards/index.js
index 834473e9f..dbd59add9 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/sandbox/cards/index.js
+++ b/app/scripts/components/sandbox/cards/index.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ function SandboxCards() {
           <Card
             linkLabel='View more'
             linkTo='/'
+            isLinkExternal={false}
             title='Cities Experiencing Clearer Air During Lockdowns'
             description='Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce varius erat in vulputate.'
             date={new Date('2021-10-26')}
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ function SandboxCards() {
             cardType='cover'
             linkLabel='View more'
             linkTo='/'
+            isLinkExternal={false}
             title='Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)'
             description='Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce varius erat in vulputate.'
             tagLabels={['Dataset']}
diff --git a/app/scripts/components/stories/hub/hub-content.tsx b/app/scripts/components/stories/hub/hub-content.tsx
index 1352d1eb8..3e11b45ca 100644
--- a/app/scripts/components/stories/hub/hub-content.tsx
+++ b/app/scripts/components/stories/hub/hub-content.tsx
@@ -168,7 +168,8 @@ export default function HubContent(props:HubContentProps) {
                 linkProperties={{
                   linkTo: `${d.asLink?.url ?? d.path}`,
                   LinkElement,
-                  pathAttributeKeyName
+                  pathAttributeKeyName,
+                  isLinkExternal: d.isLinkExternal
                 }}
                 title={
                   <TextHighlight
diff --git a/app/scripts/types/veda.ts b/app/scripts/types/veda.ts
index 363d0ada5..b11bee858 100644
--- a/app/scripts/types/veda.ts
+++ b/app/scripts/types/veda.ts
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ export interface StoryData {
   taxonomy: Taxonomy[];
   related?: RelatedContentData[];
   asLink?: LinkContentData;
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean;
   isHidden?: boolean;
 }
 
diff --git a/app/scripts/utils/url.ts b/app/scripts/utils/url.ts
index 0d869889e..a1cda8d63 100644
--- a/app/scripts/utils/url.ts
+++ b/app/scripts/utils/url.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,30 @@
 import React, { MouseEventHandler } from 'react';
 import { LinkProps } from 'react-router-dom';
 
+export function isExternalLink(link: string): boolean {
+  return /^https?:\/\//.test(link) && !link.includes(window.location.hostname);
+}
 
 export const getLinkProps = (
-    linkTo: string,
-    as?: React.ForwardRefExoticComponent<LinkProps & React.RefAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement>>,
-    onClick?: (() => void) | MouseEventHandler
-  ) => {
-    // Open the link in a new tab when link is external
-    const isExternalLink = /^https?:\/\//.test(linkTo);
-    return isExternalLink
+  linkTo: string,
+  isLinkExternal?: boolean,
+  as?: React.ForwardRefExoticComponent<
+    LinkProps & React.RefAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement>
+  >,
+  onClick?: (() => void) | MouseEventHandler
+) => {
+  // Open the link in a new tab when link is external
+  const isExternalLink = isLinkExternal ?? /^https?:\/\//.test(linkTo);
+  return isExternalLink
     ? {
         href: linkTo,
         to: linkTo,
-        ...{target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener noreferrer'},
-        ...(onClick ? {onClick: onClick} : {})
+        ...{ target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener noreferrer' },
+        ...(onClick ? { onClick: onClick } : {})
       }
     : {
-        ...(as ? {as: as} : {}),
+        ...(as ? { as: as } : {}),
         to: linkTo,
-        ...(onClick ? {onClick: onClick} : {})
+        ...(onClick ? { onClick: onClick } : {})
       };
-  };
+};
diff --git a/mock/stories/external-link-example.stories.mdx b/mock/stories/external-link-example.stories.mdx
index 184932fd7..51a5b85d9 100644
--- a/mock/stories/external-link-example.stories.mdx
+++ b/mock/stories/external-link-example.stories.mdx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 featured: true
 id: 'external-link-test'
-name: External Link Test 
+name: External Link Test
 description: Story to test external link
 media:
   src: ::file ./img-placeholder-6.jpg
@@ -24,4 +24,5 @@ related:
     id: air-quality-and-covid-19
 asLink:
   url: 'https://developmentseed.org'
+isLinkExternal: true
 ---
diff --git a/parcel-resolver-veda/index.d.ts b/parcel-resolver-veda/index.d.ts
index 072384819..52083c4dd 100644
--- a/parcel-resolver-veda/index.d.ts
+++ b/parcel-resolver-veda/index.d.ts
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ declare module 'veda' {
     taxonomy: Taxonomy[];
     related?: RelatedContentData[];
     asLink?: LinkContentData;
+    isLinkExternal?: boolean;
     isHidden?: boolean;
   }
 
@@ -339,7 +340,9 @@ declare module 'veda' {
   export const getBoolean: (variable: string) => boolean;
 
   export const getBannerFromVedaConfig: () => BannerData | undefined;
-  export const getCookieConsentFromVedaConfig: () => CookieConsentData| undefined;
+  export const getCookieConsentFromVedaConfig: () =>
+    | CookieConsentData
+    | undefined;
 
   export const getNavItemsFromVedaConfig: () =>
     | {