Caribbean & Latin America
In Latin America, the Netherlands is investing in development projects that aim to combine climate adaptation with economic opportunities, but visible returns have so far been limited, according to a status update report from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. In Colombia, two so‑called combitracks are active,
Africa
The Netherlands is intensifying diplomatic pressure on Sierra Leone in an effort to secure the extradition of convicted drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, better known as “Bolle Jos.” Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel held fresh talks in Geneva with his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Alpha Sesay, warning that sheltering Leijdekkers is
NATO & Defense
The Dutch Ministry of Defence is set to make a major investment in NATO tanker aircraft, announcing plans to modernise the alliance’s shared refuelling fleet to keep it operational well beyond 2035. The upgrade will take the form of a so‑called midlife update of the Multi‑Role Tanker
Dutch politics
Public trust in Dutch politicians and the House of Representatives fell to its lowest level since records began in 2012, according to new figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The overall picture shows mounting pressure on confidence in national politics, while European and especially local institutions are gaining credibility among
Dutch politics
The Dutch cabinet sees no indications that the United States is engaging in unwanted foreign interference in the Netherlands.
Asia & Australia
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Netherlands this weekend. The visit will focus on deepening bilateral relations and the signing of a Strategic Partnership between the Netherlands and India.
Middle East
All 27 member states of the European Union reached a political agreement on Monday on sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced. The breakthrough follows a change in position by Hungary, which had blocked similar proposals for years. Under the
Europe & EU
After fifteen years of war, international isolation and a long‑closed embassy, relations between the Netherlands and Syria appear to be cautiously improving. Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024 and the formation of a Syrian transitional government, Europe - and also the Netherlands - have been exploring new
Dutch politics
The Netherlands must swiftly develop a coherent national food strategy to be better prepared for global food crises and to deploy its strong position in international food chains more strategically. This is the conclusion of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) in its advisory letter Food Security in a
China
With the appointment of Caspar Veldkamp as the new EU ambassador to China, Brussels gains an envoy with deep roots in The Hague and a politically charged track record. The former Dutch minister of foreign affairs will take up one of Europe’s most demanding diplomatic posts this summer: the
United States & Canada
The United States can use Dutch airports and Dutch airspace for flights and military operations related to the war with Iran. Unlike countries such as Spain, Switzerland, and France, the Netherlands sees no reason to close its airspace or impose restrictions on U.S. military flights. The Dutch government made
Africa
The Netherlands is active in Africa with a broad range of development and trade projects, ranging from horticulture and cocoa to healthcare, logistics and green hydrogen. On paper, the so‑called combitracks show promising results, but the overall picture is uneven: some projects are making demonstrable progress, while others remain