Europe's largest port prepares for potential war with Russia - FT
Photo: Europe's largest port has begun preparations for military action against Russia (Getty Images)
Local authorities are preparing the port of Rotterdam for potential military action against Russia. They are reserving spaces in the harbor for NATO ships and planning routes for transferring weapons as part of broader preparations for a possible war with Russia, the Financial Times (FT) reports.
According to the media outlet, amphibious landing exercises will take place in the maritime harbor. The Port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe, has received weapon shipments before, but even during the height of the Cold War, it never had a dedicated berth for military logistics.
Now, part of the container terminal is being repurposed to enable the safe transfer of ammunition from one vessel to another.
Port director Boudewijn Siemons stated that military supply logistics will be coordinated with the Port of Antwerp in neighboring Belgium, especially when receiving cargo from the US, the UK, and Canada.
"We see each other less and less as competitors. Of course, we compete where we need to, but we work together where we can," Siemons noted.
According to the port director, if there is a need to move large volumes of weaponry, Rotterdam will turn to Antwerp or other ports to share the load - and vice versa.
What precedes this
In May, the Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Port of Rotterdam will provide space for military deliveries at NATO's request. The decision is part of the EU's rearmament program.
The port is also used as a storage site for the strategic oil reserve. In this context, Dutch officials have urged European countries to also focus on securing other critical resources, including copper, lithium, and graphite.
EU prepares for war with Russia
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently warned that Russia could attack NATO territory within the next few years.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda agrees with Germany's assessments, stating that Russia could launch a new offensive within several years, with the Baltic states likely to be primary targets.
Furthermore, economic models by Bloomberg Economics estimate global GDP losses of up to $1.5 trillion in the event of a full-scale Russian war against Europe.
