United States & Canada
Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz urges for "a cool head" after the U.S. announced it will withdraw troops from Germany. How does The Hague position itself? And in which areas is Dutch defense most reliant on the United States? “We need to keep a cool head,” she
China
A number of Dutch ministers are planning several working visits to China in the coming months. Why now? What is the relationship between China and the Netherlands? And what is happening elsewhere in Europe?
Ukraine
The Dutch cabinet wants to involve the Dutch business community more prominently in the development and reconstruction of Ukraine.
NATO & Defense
The Netherlands will not extend its maritime contribution to security in the eastern Mediterranean. The air-defense and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen will return home in early May. Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz and Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen informed the House of Representatives in a letter that the deployment will not
NATO & Defense
The Dutch cabinet has acknowledged that it allowed arms exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a period of formally restrictive export controls, but insists these deliveries were lawful, deliberate and defensive in nature — and sees no reason to tighten policy or increase transparency towards parliament. According to the
United States & Canada
For months, the Dutch House of Representatives has been trying to prevent the company behind DigiD from ending up in American hands, but so far without success. Solvinity, the IT company that provides the infrastructure on which DigiD operates, may be taken over by the US tech firm Kyndryl. The
Caribbean & Latin America
Prime Minister Jetten visits the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 8 to 14 May 2026. It will be the first time Jetten visits the islands as prime minister. What is Jetten going to do? And what is Jetten's Caribbean policy? “The visit is taking
Africa
Governing party D66 is seeking clarification from the cabinet over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian, economic and security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
NATO & Defense
The Dutch government wants its armed forces to be visibly more deployable by 2026, for national and allied tasks. In the Defence Policy Letter 2026, the focus shifts from rebuilding capacity to immediate military readiness, a response to what the ministry describes as a sustained decline in Europe’s security
NATO & Defense
The Netherlands is extending its military training support for Ukraine until the end of 2028 and will shift a large part of that effort from the United Kingdom to Germany. Defence Minister Yeşilgöz announced this in a letter to parliament ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) meeting on
Middle East
The Dutch government condemns calls by Israeli ministers to annex Lebanese territory and describes statements about a possible occupation of southern Lebanon as “deeply concerning”. This was written by Foreign Affairs Minister Berendsen in answers to parliamentary questions. According to the cabinet, the annexation of Lebanese territory would be in
United States & Canada
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen still considers the United States an ally, but acknowledges that the country has become “less predictable.” In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad, Berendsen says the Netherlands remains dependent on the US for its security, while at times disagreeing with the actions of the