News item | 24-04-2026 | 13:30
The defense budget will grow to 2.8% of gross domestic product during this cabinet period, on the way to 3.5% in 2035. This makes it possible to build a future-proof armed forces. The Ministers of Defense inform the House of Representatives in a letter about what they want to do during this cabinet period. The elaboration of the plans will follow in the 2026 Defense Memorandum, which will be sent to Parliament before the summer recess.
The Netherlands faces major security challenges. This is mainly due to continued Russian aggression and an increasingly assertive China. This was endorsed this week in the annual report of the Military Intelligence and Security Service. In addition, there is unrest in the Caribbean and conflicts in the Middle East. Our Kingdom faces cyber attacks, espionage and disinformation campaigns every day. They are aimed at disrupting society.
The Netherlands must be able to defend its own and NATO treaty areas together with its allies and deter potential opponents. The Netherlands continues to support Ukraine unabated. It is also important that our armed forces remain agile and decisive so that, together with allies, we can anticipate new threats in the current unpredictable geopolitical era.
The allies agreed to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 during the NATO summit in The Hague. This NATO standard is laid down in law. In this way, the Netherlands ensures financial security for the armed forces and the defense industry over a longer period.
More combat power
The armed forces must be fully deployable and prepared for a large-scale conflict in a NATO context. Significantly more people are being recruited for this purpose, including soldiers, civilians and reservists. Additional investments are also being made in capabilities on land, at sea, in the air and in the cyber and space domain. In addition, the armed forces want to ensure sufficient logistical support, ammunition and supplies. So that Defense can maintain the fight for a long time in the event of a conflict.
In the middle of society
The growth of Defense demands a lot from our society. Consider, for example, more space and scaling up the production capacity of the defense industry. At the same time, Defense also has many opportunities to offer that Dutch society can benefit from. For example, investments in the armed forces can produce innovative solutions that benefit our country. The letter also states that Defense wants to further strengthen its ties with the regions and involve them in the implementation of the National Space Plan for Defense.
Strong Europe within NATO
The ministers write that it is time for the Netherlands and Europe to take more responsibility for security on their own continent. The wish is for the Netherlands to lead the way in the further development of a stronger Europe within NATO, in which the EU must play an essential role.
Technological advance, industry and innovation
In order to create a technological advantage and be able to win the battle of the future, Defense invests heavily in innovation. A Defense innovation authority must ensure, among other things, accelerated technological military capabilities on Dutch soil.
Defense is committed even more to faster production and scaling up the Dutch and European Defense industry and aims to purchase at least 50% of the equipment in its own country or a European country. In the accelerated digital renewal of the armed forces, extra attention is paid to, among other things, drones and cyber security.
