Dutch Defense Minister calls on EU to be ready for battle
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren (GettyImages)
The European Union must prepare for battle if it wants to remain a zone of stability and peace. This requires implementing a series of changes in the military structures of its member countries, according to the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren.
"No single nation can tackle today’s security threats on its own. We Europeans need to step up our game, build a credible European defense, and strengthen our position as a key pillar within NATO," wrote the Dutch Minister of Defense, commenting on the new agreement within the EU's military cooperation.
Ollongren says that the European Union has always been a peace project, and all wars have been fought close to it. She emphasized that for countries outside the EU, membership is both a reward and a promise of peace and stability.
"To keep it that way, it is essential that we act now. Europe must re-learn deterrence. We must make long-term, structural investments in strengthening our armed forces. We need to be 'fit to fight'," underscored Ollongren.
Support for Ukraine from the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of Ukraine's allied countries. Amsterdam provides Kyiv not only with military but also economic assistance.
For example, recently, the Netherlands announced the transfer of a new package of military aid, including funds for demining, ammunition, and drones.
It was also recently revealed that the Netherlands plans to provide additional assistance of 2.5 billion euros to support Ukraine in its war against Russia next year.
