Netherlands aims to cut dependence on U.S. security guarantees, new strategy says

The Dutch government aims to begin implementing a joint European plan over the next four years to sharply reduce reliance on the United States for the defense of the Netherlands, according to a new international security strategy submitted to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, by Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen.

Europe will increasingly develop its own strategic capabilities in areas such as intelligence and ballistic missile defence, the CDA minister writes. The shift away from capabilities currently provided largely by the United States will take place "in close coordination with the U.S." to ensure no security gaps arise during the transition.

The strategy envisions Europe becoming far more self-sufficient in defense production, with the goal that within four years the continent can build its own versions of key conventional weapons systems or have them well advanced in development. The government is also continuing to examine cooperation with France on nuclear capabilities, as announced earlier.

According to Berendsen, any cooperation on nuclear deterrence must remain within the boundaries of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the international agreement signed by 190 countries to curb the spread of nuclear arms. "A world free of nuclear weapons remains the ultimate goal, but as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance." Within the alliance, the United States and the United Kingdom, in addition to France, possess nuclear weapons.

A year ago at the NATO summit in The Hague, European allies agreed to sharply raise defense spending, committing to increase direct military expenditure from the alliance's longstanding 2 percent benchmark to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035. The move was intended to address calls from the Trump administration for Europe to shoulder more of the burden for its own defense.

The strategy calls for stronger protection of vital infrastructure against sabotage, particularly assets such as subsea cables and pipelines in the North Sea. It also outlines plans to reduce reliance on China for critical raw materials and to curb the transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology to foreign actors.

The strategy also reaffirms long-term support for Ukraine. The government says Russia remains the most significant threat to NATO territory following its invasion of the neighboring country four years ago.