Dutch defence minister labels Russia as an enemy, not aggressor
Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz told parliament during the defence budget debate that Russia is now the Netherlands' enemy rather than its aggressor, while saying this does not mean the country is at war. The Russian embassy in The Hague, speaking through a Telegram statement reported by TASS, asked whether her remarks reflected official government policy and warned of an "immediate, swift and crushing response" to any threat to Russian sovereignty. DutchNews.nl reports the government's policy itself is unchanged.
Bottom line — The Dutch government has not yet said whether Yeşilgöz's words are official policy, leaving Moscow's demand for clarification unanswered.
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DutchNews.nl quotes Yeşilgöz saying a rise in sabotage, drone incidents and intimidation across Europe made it necessary to name the threat plainly.
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Dutch military intelligence chief Peter Reesink warned in late September that Russia-linked incidents are rising and further escalation is possible, in the words of NL Times: "A cornered cat makes strange leaps."
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DutchNews.nl reports an August draft law would give the AIVD and MIVD intelligence services powers against Russia, China and Iran, including acting without prior watchdog permission, which the intelligence review committee CTIVD chair Hugo Hillenaar told NOS could threaten the democratic rule of law.
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The Russian embassy said Russia has "no aggressive intentions towards Europe" while also rejecting what it called threats and ultimatums, according to Sahara Reporters and Tuko.co.ke.
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Yeşilgöz told parliament Dutch troops are training in Estonia to show NATO is ready to defend its eastern border, according to NL Times.
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ANP reports the embassy posted on X asking the Dutch government to either confirm her words or distance itself from them.