Hosting Ukraine war tribunal will impact Dutch national security, says Foreign Minister

The possible establishment of the special tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine prosecuting the Russian leaders responsible for the war against Ukraine will have “a significant impact on national security and the justice system,” while also taking years before it becomes a reality, caretaker Foreign Minister David van Weel said during a visit to Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Netherlands has agreed to host the tribunal. This month, the government approved the Netherlands as host for the first two preparatory stages, which include arranging facilities and recruiting key personnel, such as judges. The third phase will see the tribunal begin its formal investigations and prosecutions.

Van Weel warned that the Netherlands could be targeted during the first two preparatory phases, with potential threats including foreign interference, sabotage, and cyberattacks. A final decision on the tribunal’s permanent location will be made later. The minister stressed that agreeing to host the initial stages does not constitute a commitment to hosting the tribunal permanently.

“Having sufficient capacity to serve as host in phase 3 is an important requirement and will weigh heavily when a future decision is made on housing the operational tribunal,” Van Weel said. The tribunal will have “far-reaching consequences” for, among other things, the prison system and the security and protection apparatus, the Cabinet previously informed Parliament.

The tribunal is still many years away. In a letter to Parliament, the minister noted that the Judicial Complex in Vlissingen took roughly ten years to build, highlighting the long timeline required for such a project.