Dutch government developing plan to be more resilient to war, other threats

This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to NOS.

"The government wants to make the Netherlands more resilient to a large-scale armed conflict or other crises, such as flooding, a pandemic or a long-term failure of 'vital processes'. It is also about attempts from abroad to disrupt Dutch society, cause unrest or inflict economic damage," the report says.

After a long period of peace of nearly 80 years, the awareness of the risk of war has disappeared, said the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, David Van Weel. Together with the Minister of Defense, Rubens Brekelmans, he presented the country's comprehensive "resilience plan".

Citizens are advised to have an emergency kit in case of power outages, water and Wi-Fi failures. The government will not finance such kits, as this is people’s responsibility.

"In addition to individuals, companies and municipalities must also make crisis scenarios to prepare for the worst," said Brekelmans.

Russian aggression has led to a rapid deterioration in international security, the government emphasizes. The Netherlands has already become the target of daily cyberattacks, espionage, and sabotage.

According to Brekelmans, if the Netherlands becomes more resilient, this will also deter countries such as Russia and China.

The government has been working to increase resilience for some time, in particular in response to cyberattacks suspected of being executed under Russian leadership. The cabinet program already discusses in detail the need to make the Netherlands more resilient, both socially and militarily.

All ministries must now draw up plans to ensure that the country is properly prepared in all areas. A national awareness campaign will be run in 2025 to tell citizens what they can do themselves to prepare for threats.

Brekelmans noted that the Netherlands is not yet at war, “but also no longer at peace.” “In this gray zone, we need to defend against hybrid attacks and increase our military readiness,” the Minister of Defense is convinced.

As Ukrinform reported, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced an additional EUR 22 million to Ukraine for defense and cybersecurity needs.