Russia
Dutch intelligence services have now revealed that Russian state-backed hackers managed to compromise a number of internet-connected cameras in the Netherlands, including devices positioned along military logistics routes used to transport equipment and weapons. The answers offer a rare glimpse into a covert surveillance campaign stretching across NATO
Russia
How far is the Netherlands prepared to go against vessels suspected of helping Moscow evade sanctions? What specific powers will Dutch authorities gain? Which ministries will be responsible for enforcement? Subscribers can read the full political and security implications here.
Middle East
How far is The Hague willing to go behind the scenes for Omar Elshal, a Dutch ASML employee who has been held in an Egyptian prison for months? The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is saying little publicly, but it has confirmed that Cairo has been formally urged to ensure
Dutch politics
How dependent is the Netherlands on the raw materials needed to build warships, drones and batteries? And what happens if those supplies suddenly disappear — because of Chinese export controls or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz? The Dutch government is sounding the alarm over growing geopolitical pressures on critical
Dutch politics
When the Dutch government launched a €50 million fund for scientists working under pressure, ministers insisted it was not aimed at any one country. But the first results tell a different story. Some are arriving from institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale and Columbia. How did the Netherlands become one
NATO & Defense
Before NATO leaders gathered behind closed doors in Ankara, the mood among diplomats was tense. Donald Trump had publicly attacked allies, questioned the Alliance's value, criticised Spain, and once again stirred controversy with remarks about Greenland. Senior officials privately admitted the summit would largely be about one thing:
NATO & Defense
For most ministers attending the NATO Summit in Ankara, the visit is a matter of diplomacy and defence policy. For Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz, it is also deeply personal. Born in Ankara and fled Turkey as a child because of her family's political background, Yeşilgöz has returned
NATO & Defense
One year after NATO allies agreed to dramatically increase defence spending, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten believes Europe and Canada now have a strong message for Washington: they are stepping up. But will it be enough to convince US President Donald Trump, who continues to question the value of the
China
A Dutch minister who was once sanctioned by China and barred from entering the country has now emerged from a three-day visit to Beijing describing it as the warmest reception he has received since joining the government. Behind the diplomatic smiles, however, lie difficult questions about trade imbalances, semiconductor
NATO & Defense
New surveillance aircraft, submarine orders, missile production partnerships, naval projects and billions of euros in fresh defence investments. As NATO leaders gather in Ankara, the summit is increasingly taking on another name among diplomats and defence executives: the Summit of Deals. But behind the headlines lies a bigger question. How
Europe & EU
NATO leaders arrive in the Turkish capital Ankara for a summit that may lack the dramatic headline-making decisions of last year's gathering in The Hague — but could prove just as consequential for the future of the alliance. Behind closed doors, leaders from all 32 NATO member states
China
The first Dutch ministerial trade mission to China in eight years comes at a pivotal moment for relations between The Hague and Beijing. Officially, the visit focuses on business opportunities. In reality, it will also test how far the Netherlands can deepen economic ties with China while navigating growing geopolitical