Middle East
A controversial invitation from The Hague is exposing clear fault lines in Dutch politics. While right-wing and christian parties are pushing for a meeting with Reza Pahlavi, left-wing factions have voted against the move.
Asia & Australia
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has identified dozens of reports describing suspected violations of international humanitarian law committed by Western coalition partners and Afghan forces during the Afghanistan mission.
Middle East
Two Dutch ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Berendsen and Minister for Migration Van den Brink has travelled to Syria following earlier visits to Qatar and Lebanon, marking a cautious step in The Hague’s re-engagement with Damascus.
Asia & Australia
The Dutch government has confirmed it is participating in exploratory talks between the European Union and the Taliban on the return of rejected Afghan asylum seekers, while stressing it does not recognise the regime as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.
Africa
A group of European foreign ministers including those of the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom have issued a stark joint warning over the escalating violence in Sudan, calling the situation around the city of El Obeid a “critical moment” for the international community.
Europe & EU
Dutch diplomat Tanja Gonggrijp has been elected Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, one of the continent’s key human rights organisations. With a clear majority of 135 votes to 59, she defeated her Finnish opponent, Marja Ruotanen-Bourdages, securing the confidence of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in
United States & Canada
Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade Sjoerdsma is in Washington for high-level talks on trade, technology, the position of the Dutch semiconductor industry and ASML. According to insiders in Washington and The Hague, he is expected to conclude a new agreement with the United States during the visit.
Dutch politics
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has formally apologised on behalf of the government for the treatment of Moluccan migrants who arrived in the Netherlands after the Indonesian War of Independence, acknowledging decades of hardship, neglect and unresolved grievances. This is what Jetten said.
Asia & Australia
The Dutch government is continuing its efforts to locate and potentially repatriate the remains of five Dutch soldiers who went missing during the Korean War, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. JA21 MP Michiel Hoogeveen has drawn attention to the issue through parliamentary questions and has received a
United States & Canada
The Dutch government is responding with extreme caution to new concerns from the United States that one of ASML’s most advanced chipmaking machines may have ended up in China, despite strict export restrictions.
Asia & Australia
The state visit of Japanese Emperor Naruhito to the Netherlands highlights how relations between The Hague and Tokyo are evolving from a historically burdened relationship into an increasingly close strategic partnership. Whereas previous visits were still heavily shaped by the legacy of the Second World War, the focus has now
Asia & Australia
The Dutch government is stepping up pressure on parliament to ratify the EU–ASEAN aviation agreement, warning that the Netherlands risks blocking the entire deal and undermining its international credibility if it fails to act.