News item | 02-06-2025 | 10:07
Our safety is increasingly and closely intertwined with Asia. What happens in the Indo-Pacific also affects Europe and vice versa. Consider the mutual support of Russia and North Korea and the importance of free trade routes by sea. The sabotage of the submarine infrastructure and the growing influence of China also plays a role. Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized this during the most important safety conference in Asia. He visited this Shangri-La Dialogue In Singapore together with Commander of the Armed Forces General Onno Eichelsheim.
The United States also focuses more on the Indo-Pacific region. This means that the Netherlands and Europe themselves have to take more responsibility. They must do that for their own safety and for a stronger defense industry. The American Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth was positive about the steps that Europe is taking. He called on the Indo-Pacific on the same.
Regional conflicts worldwide impact
During the conference, Brekelmans spoke, among other things, about the worldwide impact of regional conflicts. He also raised the rise of new threats. Among other things, he focused on nuclear threats and artificial intelligence (AI). “Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons, but then Russia violated every appointment. This gave the message that openness and disarmament do not pay, while this is actually necessary. In exchange for military support, Russia is now sharing knowledge and technology with North Korea. Also his China, Russia and North Korea are not transparent and DREATUTAARE, and are Dreersegen, and DREATUTAIARE, and DREATAITE, and DRACTAARE, and his Dreersenige are DREATUTAARE, and are Dreersenegen, and are Dreersengen, and are Dreersenegenege, and are Dreersenegenegenegen’s, and DRACTAITEAITE, and DRACTAITE. have to work together for our joint safety. “
The minister also pointed out the non-proliferation agreement as an important pillar of international security. Trust and mutual agreements are essential. “Nuclear weapons in the wrong hands, AI without control, and great powers that ignore treaties. This threatens us worldwide. That is why I call for more realism, openness and control.”
Military presence
Eichelsheim emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific for the Netherlands. “For our economic interests, free passage in this region is of great importance. In addition to the focus on safety in Europe, regular military presence in the Asian region is also important. That is why we provide maritime presence and we participate in international exercises. We also deliver ongoing staff to the United Nations Command in South Korea.”
Distinction
The use of the Netherlands and the cooperation with strategic partners is also seen in Japan. That is why Eichelsheim received the Defense Cooperation Decoration of his Japanese counterpart, General Yoshida Yoshihide.