Editor’s Note: The tenth edition of Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, is now underway in Delhi. Firstpost, which has partnered with the Observer Research Foundation for Raisina, brings you this piece ahead of the session on Europe’s defences and the Netherlands’ role in it on Day 2.
The Netherlands is making significant investments in strengthening its defence capabilities as geopolitical tensions in Europe continue to simmer.
The Dutch government has announced an increase in defence spending by €2.4 billion annually, bringing the total budget to approximately €24 billion per year — nearly double the amount allocated in 2022.
This increase includes €1.5 billion specifically earmarked for bolstering “combat power,” reflecting a broader commitment to reinforcing home defence and preparing for potential large-scale conflicts.
The shift in policy follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has highlighted the need for Nato members to be prepared for the possibility of direct confrontation. The Dutch defence paper explicitly outlines scenarios in which Russia could attack a Nato member, such as Lithuania or Poland.
The Netherlands, it states, must be ready to fight a war of necessity rather than engage in “wars of choice,” which have characterised past decades.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/netherlands-defence-upgrade-military-strategy-nato-security-13871224.html.
