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
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.
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
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
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.
United States & Canada
After a visit to Washington, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66) has sharply criticised proposed US legislation that could force Dutch chipmaker ASML to further restrict its exports to China, even as the Netherlands signalled closer alignment with Washington by signing on to the Pax Silica initiative during the
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.
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 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 & Defense
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.