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Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 16-02-2023 | 16:38

The summit brought together some 2000 delegates from governments, businesses, civil society organisations, academia and thinktanks from all over the world. With their joint call to action (see the CtA attachment and the country list), the participating countries and other stakeholders underlined the need to put the responsible use of AI higher on the political agenda and to further promote initiatives that make a contribution in this respect.

Establishment of Global Commission on AI

A Global Commission on AI is to be established to raise all-round awareness, clarify how to define AI in the military domain and determine how this technology can be developed, manufactured and deployed responsibly. The Commission will also set out the conditions for the effective governance of AI.

Summit host Wopke Hoekstra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, commented: ‘With this REAIM summit we’ve clearly established the urgent nature of this subject. We now need to take further steps. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to reach agreement on this. The Netherlands will remain a driving force behind efforts to conclude international agreements in this area.’

Host Kajsa Ollongren, the Minister of Defence, said: ‘AI is of crucial importance to the armed forces of the future. With the right frameworks and legislation in place, using AI will make our operational and logistical processes simpler and more efficient. AI also enables us to take faster, better-informed decisions. In this way we not only protect our own troops, but we can also limit harm and casualties to the greatest extent possible. In order to ensure that we use AI in a responsible manner, we will continue to work closely with our partners within existing alliances, such as the EU and NATO, but also with NGOs, thinktanks, educational and knowledge institutions and businesses. By doing so, we will be investing in our freedom.’

The REAIM summit was co-hosted by South Korea. Like the Netherlands, South Korea has been encouraging countries to contribute actively to the dialogue on the responsible use of AI in the military domain. This has helped to ensure contributions to the summit from participants and government representatives from all over the world.

A varied summit programme

The REAIM summit featured contributions from leading experts on AI in the military domain. In a wide-ranging programme, it offered break-out sessions, workshops, interviews, talkshows, an academic forum and a student hub. It also included a ‘Responsible Innovation Hub’, enabling companies to showcase their products and responsible innovations.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 23-12-2022 | 10:45

In the coming year Ukraine will continue to need considerable international support. Russia’s war in Ukraine is still ongoing, and has turned into a war of attrition. Ukraine’s armed forces continue fighting every day for the freedom, security and prosperity of their country, and thus for that of Europe as a whole. The Dutch government’s decision to earmark funding now sends a clear message of undiminished solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who can count on predictable Dutch support for as long as it takes.

Military aid will be drawn from the Netherlands’ own stocks and purchased from commercial suppliers. The Netherlands is committed to coordinating and collaborating with other countries and the defence industry. This should enhance the effectiveness of arms shipments for Ukraine’s armed forces while limiting the impact on our own. The aid for essential reconstruction activities is intended for infrastructure repairs (especially energy infrastructure), hospitals, housing, agriculture and demining. The government is also providing humanitarian aid and support for the rule of law, human rights and accountability. The amount set aside for Ukraine is on top of the liquidity support totalling €18 billion being channelled via the EU and the cost of refugee reception in the Netherlands.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 22-08-2022 | 19:30

In the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, Ms Schreinemacher and Ms Ollongren saw the devastation caused by Russia’s aggression. In Kyiv they met with several members of the Ukrainian government, and stressed that the Dutch government would continue to support Ukraine by all possible means. This will not be limited to resources needed to pursue the war effort. The ministers also asked the Ukrainian authorities what they need to help the Ukrainian people and rebuild the country.

Support package to start reconstruction

Ever since the war began six months ago, the Netherlands has been providing Ukraine with humanitarian, military and financial-economic support. During the visit Ms Schreinemacher, the Dutch minister responsible for coordinating aid for Ukrainian reconstruction, announced a new support package.

She will for example release €65 million for aid and investment in Ukraine. This will include cofinancing Dutch companies’ efforts to rebuild infrastructure such as bridges, dikes and hospitals in areas affected by the war. The funds will also be used to enable Ukrainian SMEs to invest in their businesses.

Additional money (€10 million) will be earmarked to clear landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

Minister Schreinemacher: ‘Demining is vital. Only once the explosives are dismantled can people return safely to their homes or farms and begin work on recovery.’

In addition, the minister is making €1 million available to support initial design plans for rebuilding three cities: Kherson, Odesa and Mykolaiv. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities will help involve a broad, diverse group of stakeholders in the development and implementation of these plans, including young people, women and refugees.

Another €2.5 million will go to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to share knowledge with bodies such as the National Bank of Ukraine concerning macroeconomic reforms, good governance and the rule of law. Ms Schreinemacher will also give €2 million to the United Nations Population Fund for psychosocial support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

In Kyiv, Ms Schreinemacher met with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Yulia Svyrydenko. She also met with the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine , Kyrylo Shevchenko.

Defence

Ms Ollongren spoke with Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, and Minister for Veterans Affairs Yuliia Laputina. Since the start of the war the Netherlands has given Ukraine materiel, arms, ammunition and equipment with a book value of over €210 million. During her various meetings, Ms Ollongren promised to continue providing this kind of support to Ukraine.

On Saturday, 90 Dutch military personnel left for the UK, where they will give Ukrainian troops basic military training. ‘Training the Ukrainian armed forces is of crucial importance,’ said Ms Ollongren. ‘We will continue to help with this in the future.’

The Netherlands has supplied equipment to the Ukrainian mine clearance service, and together with a partner country is now exploring opportunities to provide the agency with knowledge and training.

Russian war crimes must not go unpunished. A forensic team from the Dutch Ministry of Defence was deployed in May to gather evidence. Ms Ollongren aims to deploy the team again this autumn, and she supports the plan for a rotation system involving various countries, coordinated by the International Criminal Court (ICC). She has also offered to share knowledge and experience with Ukraine on care services for veterans.
 
According to Ms Ollongren, it is also time to start thinking about new instruments for the next phase of support. Speaking with her Ukrainian counterpart, the minister discussed longer-term support measures which, for example, would enable the direct purchase of equipment from the defence industry. Together, Ukraine and the UK have established a fund for this purpose. The Netherlands welcomes this initiative and is currently looking into making a contribution.

Minister Ollongren: ‘Ukraine is not alone in this struggle. The Netherlands will continue supporting Ukraine so that Russia’s aggression can be brought to a halt and peace can return.’

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 18-02-2022 | 16:52

The goods in question are 3,000 combat helmets and 2,000 ballistic vests with accompanying armour plates, 30 metal detectors and 2 wire-guided detection robots for land and sea mine detection, 2 ground surveillance radar systems and 5 weapon locating radar systems, and 100 sniper rifles with 30,000 rounds of ammunition.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra: ‘The core element of the government’s efforts remains a focus on deescalating the situation through dialogue and diplomacy. Preventing war remains the highest priority. At the same time, Ukraine must be able to defend itself against a possible armed attack on its own territory by Russia. This is why the government has decided to supply these military goods to Ukraine.’ This is being done in addition to the political, financial and military support the Netherlands is already providing at bilateral level and in an EU/NATO context.

On the basis of Ukraine’s request, the Ministry of Defence drew up an inventory of military goods that could be provided. This list was then carefully assessed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the eight criteria of the EU Common Position on arms export, after which Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher granted the export licence.

‘The Netherlands is supporting Ukraine in many ways and will also provide military goods, as some other partners are also doing’ Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren said. ‘We are doing so out of solidarity, and as a part of a broader package together with EU and NATO allies.’

The combat helmets and ballistic vests are intended for personal protection. The metal detectors can be used to detect mines, improvised explosive devices and weapons caches. The wire-guided detection robots can be used to detect sea mines. The weapon locating radar systems allow enemy artillery to be located in the event of incoming fire, and the expected point of impact to be calculated so that troops can be warned and defend themselves accurately. Sniper rifles allow military targets to be hit with precision from a great distance.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Therefore, no Dutch military personnel will be deployed to Ukraine for combat operations. The training required for the use of some of the military goods will be given outside Ukraine.

In light of the tense security situation on its eastern flank, NATO needs to be able to respond swiftly to new developments. It has therefore further raised the readiness of the NATO Response Force. ‘This ensures that NATO is prepared for all possible scenarios for the defence of the Alliance,’ Ms Ollongren said. ‘As a result, the readiness of units of the Dutch armed forces is also being raised.’

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 15-10-2021 | 15:20

Late last year the government announced that it planned to support the UN mission in Mali with critical and scarce air transport capabilities. These capabilities will contribute to the UN’s objectives for improving security and stability in Mali, which is currently a breeding ground for violent extremism. With today’s decision the UN will have another aircraft at its disposal for the next six months. The Ministry of Defence will provide the C-130 from the second half of November 2021 to 15 May 2022. This was confirmed in a letter to the House of Representatives from Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Knapen, Minister of Defence Henk Kamp and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Tom de Bruijn.

In addition to the Hercules, the mission will also include around 90 air force personnel. They will operate from Bamako and be deployable throughout the country. The most important goal will be transporting people and cargo. If necessary, the aircraft can also airdrop personnel and cargo, and be used for evacuations.

Rotating roster

Norway is in charge of coordinating air transport capabilities for MINUSMA, working together with Denmark and Portugal in a rotating roster. As of next month the Netherlands will be part of this roster.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 24-09-2021 | 12:00

The new ministers were appointed to replace Sigrid Kaag, who resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs, effective as of 17 September 2021, and Ank Bijleveld, who resigned as Minister of Defence.

After serving temporarily as Minister of Foreign Affairs for a week, Tom de Bruijn will now continue as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Minister Knapen (Foreign Affairs)

Ben Knapen served as Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation in the first Rutte government from 14 October 2010 to 5 November 2012.

In 2013 he became Director-General of the European Investment Bank of the European Union. On 9 June 2015 he was elected to the Dutch Senate for the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA), and became leader of the CDA in the Senate on 11 June 2019.

Minister Kamp (Defence)

On 12 December 2002, during the first Balkenende government, Henk Kamp was put in charge of the Ministry of Defence for the first time, following the resignation of Benk Korthals. At the time, Mr Kamp was already serving as Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment for the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Mr Kamp went on to serve as Minister of Defence in the second and third Balkenende governments. His tenure as leader of the Defence organisation ran from 12 December 2002 to 22 February 2007. He will now hold the post again until a new government is formed.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 17-03-2020 | 16:18

She gave medical capabilities as an example, commenting that the armed forces have a major incident hospital in Utrecht, as well as another emergency hospital that it may be possible to deploy, adding that they also have the capacity to keep people in quarantine. And all this only concerns what is available on land; the armed forces also have capabilities available at sea.

She was referring to the Royal Netherlands Navy, of course. Bijleveld explained that the amphibious transport ships HNLMS Johan de Witt and HNLMS Rotterdam have spacious state-of-the-art sickbays where patients with contagious illness can be treated. She went on to say that the same applies to the logistic support and supply ship HNLMS Karel Doorman. It has its own laboratories and a special quarantine area with a ventilation system, which is ideal for treating patients with contagious diseases. Which of these capabilities are available is currently being investigated.

Proven added value

HNLMS Karel Doorman proved its great added value in 2014 when the ship was deployed in the fight against Ebola in West Africa. All 3 ships have operating theatres and in total they have around 30 intensive care beds.

Bijleveld commented that up until now deployment has not been necessary, but that the armed forces are always ready for when they are needed. She said that it would be hopeless if the armed forces were to wait to start preparations until they were needed.

The preparedness of Defence extends further than just beds and medical help, she continued. Military personnel can of course also be deployed for transport or distribution, or whatever else is needed. The army can build emergency facilities. Should it be necessary, Defence could also support the police with maintaining public order. She commented that supporting civil authorities was one of the tasks of Defence. And while Defence may not always have a strong visible presence at the moment, the Netherlands can always rely on the armed forces. She added that one must of course take long-term deployment into consideration.

Caring for military personnel

Of course, Bijleveld is also keeping an eye out for military personnel, because they are just as susceptible to the virus as anyone else. Defence is therefore following the advice of the RIVM in order to stay on its feet as long as possible. She explained that the situation in deployment areas is being monitored and measures are being taken. In the Netherlands, personnel are working from home where possible. She went on to concur with the prime minister, expressing her great respect for the members of the emergency services, doctors and nurses, and everyone who is now on the frontline of this crisis. She commented that we can only fight the virus together and in a controlled way, and added a word of advice to follow the instructions and help one another if necessary.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 07-01-2013 | 09:46

The military personnel of the Defence Ground-based Air Defence Command started their 300-kilometre road journey at their home base, the ‘Luitenant-generaal Best’ Barracks in Vredepeel. The 2 Patriot air defence systems, including radar stations and launch installations, will move in 6 convoys of 25 vehicles and around 20 trailers each. At the port of Eemshaven, the materiel will be loaded onto a cargo ship and then travel, accompanied by 5 military personnel, to Turkey, where it is expected to arrive on 22 January.

Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp was there to see the military personnel off. “By baring our teeth, in a military sense”, he said, “we prevent the use of even more violence. It may sound contradictory (…), but sometimes weapons are what is needed to prevent more deaths and injuries. That is exactly how the Netherlands uses its armed forces, and we have seen this for instance in our successful counterpiracy operations.”

Tomorrow, some 30 Dutch and 20 German quartermasters will leave from Eindhoven Air Base to make preparations for the mission. The main force of around 270 Dutch military personnel will follow on 21 January.

Real threat

Turkey asked NATO for assistance in protecting its population and territory from attacks by medium-range missiles from conflict hotspot Syria, its neighbour to the south. Middendorp: “The threat is a very real one. These so-called Scud missiles have a potential range of hundreds of kilometres, so they could easily hit Turkish cities.”

The Netherlands, Germany and the United States will each cover a sector, sending 2 Patriot systems each. The Dutch will be going to Adana, which with 2.1 million inhabitants is the largest city in southern Turkey.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 04-08-2023 | 12:19

The Dutch embassy in Niger is closed to the public. The ambassador is currently working from another, safe location in the capital Niamey. In this interview, Paul looks back at the past week. ‘The work days were long and the nights short. But I’m very pleased that the Dutch nationals who wanted to leave were able to do so.’

But how was the situation in Niger, and how did the evacuation of Dutch nationals take place?

Situation following the coup in Niger

‘Strangely enough, the streets of Niamey were very quiet on the day of the coup,’ says Paul. ‘That was odd. Only the day before, when the demonstrations began, the mood had changed and things had got more serious. But what you see on the photos is not representative of the whole city. In large parts of Niamey it was still peaceful. However, the embassy and the ministry had already started to contact Dutch and international partners and stay in touch with them.’

The start of the crisis

‘Our highest priority was knowing which Dutch nationals were in the country, where they were and whether they were safe.’ The same applied to embassy staff. ‘Our embassy team was constantly in contact with one another. Everyone was at home in Niamey and, luckily, everyone was safe.’

The embassy is following the situation closely. ‘Although no two crises are the same, we are prepared for situations like this,’ Paul explains. ‘That’s one of our tasks as an embassy. If we need to evacuate people, we always look for the best and safest options. And here in Niger it was clear that the French would play an important role in that regard.’

Contact with Dutch nationals in Niger

‘We contacted Dutch nationals in two ways to inform them about a potential evacuation. In the first instance, the embassy had direct contact with Dutch nationals in Niger. We knew a lot of them already and we used to regularly call them to ask where they were and how things were going. They also called us if they had questions or concerns. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Contact Centre in The Hague was working around the clock to reach people. The aim was to find out who wanted to leave and then advise them on how to leave safely.’

Evacuation of Dutch nationals

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensured that 19 Dutch nationals could leave Niger on French flights. ‘The mood during the evacuation was good. The situation at the airport was calm and French officials were handing out water. Our Dutch operational manager stayed there until everyone was on the plane.’ But some patience was required, says Paul. ‘The Dutch nationals needed to be at the airport by 6 am to wait for a plane. Some were only able to leave in the evening, making for a few long days for everyone – both the evacuees and the embassy staff.’

‘Things never go as expected during an evacuation and there are always a lot of uncertainties. But if you can deal with that and work closely with colleagues and international partners, you always get there. We’re very grateful to our French counterparts, but also to the European Union delegation. Both played a crucial role in planning the evacuation and sharing knowledge to make sure it was a success. It was a great example of European cooperation!’

Ambassador will stay in Niger

The Dutch embassy is closed to the public until further notice. However, the Netherlands will continue to be represented in Niger, led by the ambassador. There are two reasons why we are staying, Paul notes. ‘For one, it’s to make sure someone is there for Dutch nationals who remain in the county. Several have said they are unable to leave, or don’t want to. We’ll stay in close contact with these people and keep them updated. At the same time, we want to follow the political developments in Niger closely. What is happening in the country, and in the region? And how is the security situation developing? That’s also important for the Netherlands. And something else that’s important: we want to keep channels for diplomatic dialogue open and remain in contact with civic society organisations, influential parties and partners on the ground.’

Looking ahead

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. What’s happening in Niger now will have a significant impact on its people. Hopefully it won’t further worsen their plight. The situation for Dutch nationals who remain in the country is unpredictable. For them, Paul has the following message: ‘We hope that every Dutch national in Niger has signed up to the BZ Information Service. Or, if they haven’t done so already, that they will do so now. That’s really important. Know that the embassy is following the situation closely, but that you should do this yourselves too. We will keep you informed of any major developments.’

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 15-07-2023 | 20:38

The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, announced the Netherlands’ €7.5 million contribution to the project in March 2022. That amount has now increased to €15 million.

‘Normally, as minister, it’s my job to deal with the repercussions of disasters,’ Ms Schreinemacher noted. ‘But in this instance we have a chance to prevent a disaster. The Safer is a ticking time bomb. We need swift action. It’s encouraging that so many countries have pledged their financial support. Thanks in part to the Netherlands’ contribution we now have the necessary funds to start salvaging the vessel. Obviously, all the other parties will have to follow through on their pledges as well. The Netherlands stands ready to help the UN start this operation as soon as possible.’

Supertanker

FSO Safer is a 40-year-old supertanker moored around 8 kilometres off the coast of Yemen with a huge cargo of oil. Due to years of neglect, the vessel is decaying. The risk of leakage, fire or even an explosion is high. If no action is taken, large quantities of oil could spill into the Red Sea.

The consequences of an oil spill would be enormous. It would have a huge impact on the environment and shipping and on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people who depend on small-scale fishing. The UN estimates that a spill would cost $20 billion to clean up and that it would take another 25 years for fish stocks to recover from an ecological catastrophe of this magnitude. Taken together, these potential consequences pose a huge humanitarian risk for a country that is already suffering food shortages. The UN is therefore committed to taking swift action, in concert with a number of countries including the Netherlands.

What will happen next?

Now that Boskalis has given the go-ahead, all the oil will be transferred to a specially equipped tanker. The Safer can then be safely cleaned and towed away. It is still uncertain what will be done with the oil. Difficult issues first need to be resolved in light of different countries’ contributions and interests. But everyone agrees on one thing: the first step is to transfer the oil from the Safer as quickly and safely as possible in order to avert a huge humanitarian and environmental disaster.