News item | 01-06-2026 | 15:54
“Security in Europe and Asia is increasingly interconnected.” Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius said this last weekend in Singapore. Together with Commander of the Armed Forces General Onno Eichelsheim, she took part in the Shangri-La Dialogue. That is the largest Defense and Security Conference in Asia.
“We live in a world where crises are no longer limited to one region,” Yeşilgöz said. “A missile launched in one area has consequences thousands of miles away. Think shipping lanes, food prices and energy markets. A cyber attack on one continent can disrupt hospitals, ports and satellites on another. A war in Europe involves drones from Iran and soldiers and ammunition from North Korea.” According to the minister, the lesson is clear: our security is interconnected. That is why responsibility for safety must also be shared.
During the conference, Yeşilgöz and Eichelsheim had bilateral meetings with their counterparts from the countries in the region, such as South Korea, Australia and India. Further deepening collaborations in the field of technology, defense industry and joint exercises were discussed.
In these conversations, Eichelsheim identified which ingredients are essential to counter the Russian threat. According to him, it is about multilateralism, i.e. cooperation based on shared values. In addition, pragmatism is important, adapting your approach and entering into new partnerships. Furthermore, we need to think globally, because threats in the areas of cyber, information and space know no borders.
European Indo-Pacific Strategy
In addition, Yeşilgöz took part in a panel discussion. They entered into discussions with international young professionals who are involved in the Indo-Pacific. According to Yeşilgöz, the Netherlands is one of the driving forces behind the European Indo-Pacific strategy. Dutch military units regularly train together with regional partners. This happens during exercises such as Super Garuda Shield, Exercise Komodo and the upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercise. The Netherlands has also strengthened cooperation with partners such as Japan. This was done, among other things, through joint training with advanced capabilities, such as the F-35 fighter plane.
The Dutch frigate Zr.Ms. De Ruyter active in the Indo-Pacific. “The ship maintains contact with partners throughout the region,” the minister said. “It has already visited Kochi, Surabaya and Manila and is now in Vietnam.” Yeşilgöz emphasizes that the frigate follows the planned route in full compliance with international law.
The war in Ukraine was also discussed during the discussion. This has consequences for the entire world, including countries in Asia.
Cables and pipelines
During the conference, the minister endorsed a statement on the protection of, among other things, submarine cables and pipelines. In addition to Singapore, this happened together with countries such as Australia, France, Qatar, Thailand and the United Kingdom. These countries can therefore better exchange knowledge and experiences in the field of protecting vital infrastructure.
