Multiple Dutch soldiers under investigation for right-wing extremism
In recent years, the military intelligence service MIVD investigated multiple Dutch soldiers for right-wing extremism, the Ministry of Defense confirmed to NU.nl. This is a persistent problem in the armed forces, which the anti-terrorism coordinator NCTV has warned about in its biannual threat assessment for years.
The Ministry would not give the newspaper exact figures on how many soldiers were investigated, nor the outcome of the investigations. The Ministry also wouldn’t say how many soldiers the MIVD is currently monitoring.
In 2019, the Volkskrant discovered that the MIVD had launched 21 investigations into right-wing extremist soldiers in the preceding five years, resulting in the departure of four military personnel.
In 2020, the MIVD started investigating right-wing extremism more explicitly, after the German armed forces uncovered a right-wing extremist network within one of its elite units. The MIVD has warned about right-wing extremism in Defense in its annual reports every year since then.
In 2021, the MIVD reported that, based on investigations, it was possible to prevent “several identified right-wing extremists from starting or continuing their careers within the Ministry of Defense.” In 2022 and 2024, the MIVD warned of potential threats from individual right-wing extremists and raised doubts about the reliability of some employees. The 2023 annual report contained only a general warning.
Wieke Vink, the Deputy National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV), told NU.nl that it is no surprise that individuals with right-wing extremist views find their way into the Ministry of Defense. The armed forces promote “discipline, masculinity, and military training,” among other things. And these traits are attractive in the far-right circles. Defense is also a major employer. “Every phenomenon you encounter in society, you will also encounter in such a large organization.”
According to the NCTV, there is “highly likely no threat of violence” posed by far-right individuals within the Ministry of Defense. However, it is “concerning” that these individuals receive weapons training and have access to firearms.”
The Ministry of Defense shares this concern, a spokesperson told the newspaper. That’s why the armed forces have “a system of security measures and legal status measures” aimed at “deterring individuals who pose a risk to national security or the security of the armed forces.” The Ministry takes all signals of potential right-wing extremism within the armed forces seriously and investigates them where necessary, the spokesperson said.
