NATO & Defense
Dutch politics
Middle East
Dutch cabinet: trade ban on products from Israeli settlements
Asia & Australia
Agreement between The Netherlands and Japan for military cooperation
Middle East
Dutch Foreign Minister summons Israeli Ambassador over Gaza Flotilla Incident, Prime Minister Jetten calls Israeli treatment of activists "dehumanizing"
The Dutch cabinet condemns the Israeli treatment of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces en route to Gaza.Dutch Prime Minister Jetten calls the Israeli treatment "dehumanizing and goes beyond all bounds". Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has summoned Israel’s ambassador
Europe & EU
More pressure from NGOs on Dutch cabinet over sanctions against Israel
Five major humanitarian and human rights organizations will urge the Dutch government to take a tougher stance toward Israel. On Thursday, the directors of five organizations will meet with Prime Minister Rob Jetten, where they are expected to voice sharp criticism of what they see as the Netherlands’ cautious approach.
Africa
Dutch cabinet: no evidence that Dutch food exports displace African farmers, study in Senegal and Ivory Coast finds
Dutch agri-food exports to vulnerable countries in sub-Saharan Africa do not have demonstrable structural negative effects on local farmers or food markets. This is the conclusion of a study examining Dutch onion exports to Senegal and potato exports to Ivory Coast—two trade flows with relatively large market
China
How the Dutch cabinet is using a first visit to China to recalibrate relations
After years of tensions, diplomatic clashes and growing mistrust, the Jetten cabinet is cautiously taking steps to restore its relationship with China. Minister Silvio Erkens (Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture, VVD) travels to China and South Korea. It is the first visit by a Dutch cabinet member to
NATO & Defense
A more European NATO? The Netherlands wants 'burden shift' between US and European NATO-members
The Dutch government is calling for a shift in the balance of responsibilities within NATO, urging European allies to take over tasks currently carried by the United States. In a briefing to parliament ahead of this week’s NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Sweden, The Hague makes clear it wants
Dutch politics
Record-low approval ratings for minority government Jetten, worse than previous cabinets
The minority government led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten is facing strikingly low levels of public confidence just three months into its term. New research by Ipsos I&O shows that only 24 percent of Dutch voters are satisfied with the cabinet, while nearly two-thirds (64 percent) express
Asia & Australia
Indian Prime Minister Modi in The Hague, the results: strategic partnership, ASML deal, and more Dutch pressure over Insiya
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two‑day visit to The Hague has produced a series of tangible outcomes, spanning geopolitics, economic cooperation, and politically sensitive dossiers. The visit marks a clear step forward in deepening ties between the Netherlands and India, signalling a shift toward a broader and more
Asia & Australia
Indian Prime Minister Modi in The Hague, Dutch university returns 'Chola Plates' to India
Leiden University is returning two historic copper plates, known as the Chola Plates, to India. The university’s executive board took the decision following advice from the Dutch Committee on Colonial Collections, which concluded that the objects had been removed from India without consent during the colonial period. The plates
Russia
The Netherlands finds location in The Hague for ‘Russia-tribunal’
The Netherlands has taken an important step towards establishing a special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine. A suitable location has been found in The Hague where the preparatory phase of the so-called aggression tribunal can be housed. This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen.