Dutch Minister pleased U.S. will allow Ukraine to use long-range missles in Russia

Minister Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) is pleased that the United States has given Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles in Russia but regrets that the news was made public. “I would have preferred it to be a surprise for the Russians,” the Dutch Minister said before the start of the meeting with European Union Foreign Ministers.

Washington lifted the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles on Russian territory in response to Russia deploying thousands of North Korean troops to support its war efforts, the Washington Post reported based on two senior American officials.

Veldkamp is pleased with the permission. “The Netherlands has repeatedly advocated that weapons that we supply to Ukraine can also be deployed on Russian territory. After all, that is the territory of the aggressor.”

Veldkamp is not concerned about escalating the war. “This is an adequate response to the North Korean troop presence on the Russian side.”

According to Veldkamp, the deployment of long-range missiles by Ukraine is “completely permitted under international law.” He referred to Article 51 of the UN Charter. “For a country that is defending itself, it is permitted to also deploy weapons on the territory of the aggressor. And that is Russia in this case.”

The war that Russia started against Ukraine almost a thousand days ago is one of the items on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting.

Israel and Wilders

The Dutch Cabinet is not in favor of ending the dialogue with Israel, as EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrel proposed on Wednesday. Veldkamp believes that “we should keep the doors open,” he said before the meeting with his EU colleagues in Brussels.

He does not understand Borrel’s 180-degree turn. In recent months, Borrel has “insisted on a political dialogue between the EU and the Israeli minister.” Just like Veldkamp and many of his EU colleagues.

Borrel’s unexpected proposal to cut the dialogue with Israel last week prompted irritated reactions from EU member states. This is Borrell’s last meeting of the EU foreign ministers. A new Israeli minister and a new EU foreign affairs chief will be in office soon, Veldkamp said. “Let us seize these opportunities to start a dialogue because there is a lot to discuss, including the disastrous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.”

Veldkamp also said that the visit PVV leader Geert Wilders seems to be planning to Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory “is at odds with government policy.” But he is not worried that this will give the impression that the Netherlands supports Israeli settlement policy.

An Israeli settler leader has invited Wilders to visit next month. The very pro-Israel PVV leader has been associating with radical Israeli politicians for some time and has little sympathy for the Palestinian cause. After the violence surrounding the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv football match in Amsterdam earlier this month, Wilders already crossed into government waters with calls to the Israeli government and acting as the welcoming committee of an Israeli government delegation.

But “abroad people know very well who is in control of policy in the Netherlands,” Veldkamp said. “And in Isreal, they know that very well too. The government’s policy is a two-state solution” with a Palestinian state in addition to Israel.