Ukraine
Greater role for Dutch business sector in Ukraine
The Dutch cabinet wants to involve the Dutch business community more prominently in the development and reconstruction of Ukraine.
The Hague Insider
NATO & Defense
NL will not extend maritime contribution in eastern Mediterranean
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 Netherlands defends arms exports to the UAE under restrictive regime
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
How the Dutch parliament is trying to stop an American takeover – and why it has failed so far
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 Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao for the first time
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
Dutch coalition party wants clarification from own minister on Congo and Dutch programs in the Great Lakes-region
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
What is the Dutch defense policy for the coming years? Faster deployable within NATO, 3.5% NATO target in law
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
Netherlands extends training of Ukrainian troops, moves training from United Kingdom to Germany
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 Netherlands condemns Israeli annexation remarks on Southern Lebanon, raises questions over proportionality of military action
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 Foreign Minister Berendsen: "ally US" has become "less predictable", on Greenland: "There are things we will not accept"
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
Middle East
Dutch cabinet: no export ban on dogs to Israel
The Dutch cabinet says it currently has no legal or practical means to regulate or ban the export of dogs to Israel, writes the cabinet in a letter to the House of Representatives addressing the implementation of a parliamentary resolution. Dogs exported from the Netherlands could be used in Israel
Europe & EU
What is the Dutch foreign policy for the coming years? 'Strategically European', Russia is the biggest threat, greater independence from the US
The Dutch cabinet wants to become more “strategically European”, even to the point of considering European nuclear weapons in cooperation with France. Russia is seen as the main threat. The Netherlands aims to maintain good relations with the US, while also becoming less dependent on its long‑standing and trusted