Almost all Dutch MPs want more money for Defense

The Dutch Ministry of Defense will get more money in the coming years, no matter who wins the elections in March next year. Almost all parliamentary parties think there were to many cutbacks on the Defense budget in recent years, was revealed during the parliamentary debate on that budget on Wednesday, NOS reports.

Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert herself wants to see a further 2.3 billion euros dedicated to Defense. "That does not have to happen in one year. The next government and the next government also have to work on it", she said in the Tweede Kamer, te lower house of Dutch parliament. The Defense budget for next year holds 7.9 billion euros.

Earlier this year NATO crticized the Netherlands on how low its budget for Defense is. According to the agreements, NATO members must spend at least 2 percent of its GDP on Defense each year. This year the Netherlands spent 1.16 percent of GDP. The European average wa 1.43 percent. The new president of the United States Donald Trump also already threateningly stated that Europe has to contribute more.

Minister Hennis finds it logical that the budget should be increased. "We now face a real shortage", she said.

Only SP, GroenLinks and Kuzu/Ozturk are against more money for Defense.