The NATO wants the Netherlands to invest more money in defense. The amount should increase by at least 16 to 19 billion euros per year extra. That amounts to 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product. Thousands of soldiers must also be added.
Due to the increased threats, NATO has rewritten its plans to be better prepared for possible attacks and a long-term conflict, writes Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans in a letter to the House of Representatives. “To do so, allies must be able to deploy a large part of their armed forces within a short time and maintain that commitment.”
More money is needed to do that, says NATO. According to calculations, at least 16 to 19 billion euros extra is needed annually to fully meet the objectives. That money must be in addition to the current defense standard of 2 percent. The Netherlands currently spends just over 22 billion euros a year on defense.
Brekelmans adds that the Netherlands should mainly invest in air defense, artillery and, among other things, transport aircraft. In addition to extra money, NATO also wants the Netherlands to get more manpower. 17,000 to 18,000 full-time soldiers are needed to achieve the NATO objectives.
The wish of NATO is substantial, but according to the alliance it is necessary to maintain the defense of the alliance. It is up to the cabinet to decide on the request. PVV, NSC and BBB have so far not been very enthusiastic about increasing the defense budget.
Rutte Suggested 3.5 percent Earlier
NATO chief Mark Rutte also suggested the idea of 3.5 percent earlier this month. He wanted member states to increase their defense spending to 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product. On top of that, he wanted countries to also spend 1.5 percent on other defense-related matters. In this way, the member states would be able to meet the requirement of US President Donald Trump.
A new standard will be discussed during the NATO summit in The Hague on 24 and 25 June. Trump is said to have threatened not to come to the summit if member states do not want to meet the 5 percent requirement. The US president has repeatedly threatened that NATO countries that he believes do not pay enough will no longer receive protection from the United States.