United States & Canada
The Netherlands is positioning two naval vessels in preparation for a possible multinational mission in the Strait of Hormuz, following a newly reached agreement between the United States and Iran that could pave the way for de-escalation in the region.
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
NATO & Defence
The United States’ decision to scale back military capabilities in Europe is once again fuelling debate over the continent’s security. However, outgoing Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz sees no immediate reason for alarm. The Netherlands is making Reaper drones available to NATO to replace U.S. drones.
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.
Ukraine
The Dutch government has announced a new €500 million military support package for Ukraine, with a strong emphasis on drone warfare and deepening defence cooperation between the two countries amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Europe & EU
The Dutch government wants to become significantly less dependent on the United States for its security and defence in the coming years. That is the central message of the new International Security Strategy 2026–2030, presented to parliament this week.
Africa
The Netherlands and Belgium are placing the pursuit of drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, better known as “Bolle Jos,” firmly on the European agenda this week. For the first time, the 27 EU heads of state and government will jointly address Europe’s drug problem, explicitly including the role of third
NATO & Defence
The Dutch Ministry of Defence is increasingly tightening its grip on publicly available information, as rising geopolitical tensions fuel concerns that even fragmented, open-source data can expose vulnerable military infrastructure, according to insiders in the MoD.
Dutch politics
Questions have been raised in the Dutch House of Representatives about the possible involvement of Dutch shell companies in a corruption investigation surrounding a luxury resort in Albania linked to the US president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Dutch politics
The Dutch cabinet is expected to issue formal apologies to the Moluccan community in the near future for the way they were treated by the Dutch state.
Asia & Australia
The Dutch government has stepped up diplomatic efforts in the long-running case of the abducted girl Insiya, confirming plans to send a broad delegation to India to advance discussions.