NATO Member Nation May Triple the Size of Its Military – Reports
The Netherlands is considering a significant increase in its military personnel, with a potential rise from 75,000 to 200,000, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS. Currently, the Ministry of Defense employs about 75,000 individuals, comprising...
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The Netherlands is considering a significant increase in its military personnel, with a potential rise from 75,000 to 200,000, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
Currently, the Ministry of Defense employs about 75,000 individuals, comprising both military and civilian personnel, alongside a reserve force of roughly 8,000. State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman has reportedly mentioned the 200,000 target during a recent closed-door meeting involving labor unions and ministry officials, as per NOS.
In January, Tuinman publicly acknowledged a plan by the Dutch Defense Ministry to increase the armed forces by at least 25%. “We are currently at about 74,000 people, a medium-sized city,” he noted at the time. “That is quite a lot, but it must quickly grow to 100,000 men.”
Tuinman has dismissed the idea of mandatory military service, indicating that the focus is on voluntary recruitment and a newly introduced “service year” program that permits young individuals to serve in defense roles for a year.
While mandatory military service remains legally on the books in the Netherlands, it has been suspended since 1997, with citizens no longer compelled to serve unless deemed necessary for national security.
Some experts, however, suggest that solely relying on voluntary recruitment may not fulfill the ambitious goals. “The ambition is good, but there has to be a plan,” said Dick Zandee, a defense analyst at the Clingendael Institute, to NOS. “If you want to increase that much, you have to make something mandatory.”
Jean Debie, chair of the Union for Civil and Military Defense Personnel, mentioned that compulsory service might eventually be necessary. “It will be introduced gradually if it turns out that there is insufficient recruitment on a voluntary basis,” he stated, according to the outlet.
The Netherlands is reportedly looking to Sweden as a case study; the Nordic country reintroduced conscription in 2017 after a long hiatus due to deteriorating security conditions in Europe.
These discussions around military expansion emerge amid rising tensions between the West and Russia over the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with US President Donald Trump urging the EU to take greater responsibility for its defense.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has, on multiple occasions, denied any intention to attack NATO countries, dismissing such claims as “complete nonsense.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Currently, the Ministry of Defense employs about 75,000 individuals, comprising both military and civilian personnel, alongside a reserve force of roughly 8,000. State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman has reportedly mentioned the 200,000 target during a recent closed-door meeting involving labor unions and ministry officials, as per NOS.
In January, Tuinman publicly acknowledged a plan by the Dutch Defense Ministry to increase the armed forces by at least 25%. “We are currently at about 74,000 people, a medium-sized city,” he noted at the time. “That is quite a lot, but it must quickly grow to 100,000 men.”
Tuinman has dismissed the idea of mandatory military service, indicating that the focus is on voluntary recruitment and a newly introduced “service year” program that permits young individuals to serve in defense roles for a year.
While mandatory military service remains legally on the books in the Netherlands, it has been suspended since 1997, with citizens no longer compelled to serve unless deemed necessary for national security.
Some experts, however, suggest that solely relying on voluntary recruitment may not fulfill the ambitious goals. “The ambition is good, but there has to be a plan,” said Dick Zandee, a defense analyst at the Clingendael Institute, to NOS. “If you want to increase that much, you have to make something mandatory.”
Jean Debie, chair of the Union for Civil and Military Defense Personnel, mentioned that compulsory service might eventually be necessary. “It will be introduced gradually if it turns out that there is insufficient recruitment on a voluntary basis,” he stated, according to the outlet.
The Netherlands is reportedly looking to Sweden as a case study; the Nordic country reintroduced conscription in 2017 after a long hiatus due to deteriorating security conditions in Europe.
These discussions around military expansion emerge amid rising tensions between the West and Russia over the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with US President Donald Trump urging the EU to take greater responsibility for its defense.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has, on multiple occasions, denied any intention to attack NATO countries, dismissing such claims as “complete nonsense.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
