Asia & Australia
Should the Netherlands continue talking to the Taliban at all? Where is the line between pragmatic migration diplomacy and legitimising one of the world's most controversial regimes? Those questions sparked a sharp debate in the Dutch House of Representatives. What exactly will Dutch policy towards the Taliban be,
Dutch politics
Can the Dutch government continue relying on American and other foreign cloud providers for its most sensitive data? The cabinet increasingly appears to be answering that question with a firm no. In a new strategic shift, The Hague has opted to develop its own sovereign government cloud, operated under government
Middle East
As thousands of seriously ill and injured Palestinian children remain trapped in Gaza or stranded on waiting lists in Egypt, pressure is mounting on the Dutch government to act. Parliament wants answers in a debate: will the Netherlands accept more children for life-saving treatment. Behind the scenes, coalition tensions
NATO & Defense
What happens when a decades-old European nuclear partnership is pulled into a renewed push for defence capabilities? The United Kingdom has formally asked Urenco to support the rebuilding of its nuclear fuel cycle for defence purposes — a development quietly endorsed by The Hague.
Middle East
Internal documents from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes that the March attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran breached international law. Yet in the immediate aftermath, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen refrained from making such a judgment publicly — despite clear warnings from his own officials.
Africa
The Dutch government has drawn a firm line: all new development projects in Mali are being frozen with immediate effect. The trigger is a controversial law. What triggered this abrupt decision—and why now? And what does this mean for the already fragile relationship between Mali and European countries?
Middle East
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is casting a long shadow over Europe — and the Netherlands is no exception. In a new threat assessment, Dutch intelligence services point to a growing risk, particularly against Jewish and American targets, including on Dutch soil. Two well-known international terrorist
NATO & Defense
The Netherlands is stepping up its military footprint on NATO’s eastern flank at a critical moment. As tensions with Russia continue to rise, The Hague is making a dual move: extending its deployment in Lithuania while taking on a key command role in Estonia and Latvia. Why now — and
Dutch politics
The sudden suspension of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has placed The Hague in a delicate position. As international pressure mounts and the credibility of the International Criminal Court once again comes under scrutiny, member states such as the Netherlands must now decide on Khan’s future. What will happen
Africa
After spending more than €100 million on migration partnerships, the Dutch government is facing an uncomfortable conclusion: the strategy has barely delivered. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a new internal evaluation raises fundamental doubts about whether these deals can actually curb irregular migration.
NATO & Defense
The Dutch armed forces are on the brink of a profound transformation that could fundamentally change how wars are fought — and how the Netherlands prepares for them. In a newly presented Defence White Paper, the government makes clear that the era of traditional warfare is giving way to a battlefield
Middle East
The Dutch government is preparing to take a politically sensitive step that has been debated for years: introducing national sanctions against products from Israeli settlements. But a critical opinion by the Council of State — the country’s top legislative advisory body — immediately highlights major concerns, from enforceability to democratic legitimacy.