NATO & Defense

Defense Minister: U.S. could impact the Netherlands through fewer training opportunities, "would be very damaging"

Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz at WNL.

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 says, emphasizing that military dependence is mutual. Yeşilgöz appeared at the tv sunday morning show WNL op Zondag.

What happened?

On Friday evening, the United States announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The news followed a week in which U.S. President Donald Trump openly clashed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump was angered by Merz’s criticism of the U.S. war in Iran.

Training

There are no immediate consequences for the Netherlands. However, according to Yeşilgöz, the Netherlands could be affected if defense cooperation with the U.S. comes under pressure: Dutch military personnel frequently train in the United States and make use of American facilities. “It would be very damaging for us if we were to lose those opportunities,” the minister said.

The Netherlands chooses no side

Yeşilgöz is not taking sides in the dispute between U.S. President Trump and German Chancellor Merz. “It doesn’t help to express all kinds of value judgments,” she said. “It is important that we keep the dialogue going.”

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