ANKARA, Turkey — The Netherlands is set to unveil a package of defence agreements and plans valued at more than €3 billion — roughly $3.43 billion — at a NATO forum taking place Tuesday in Ankara, according to Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yesilgoz.
Speaking with Reuters during an interview in the Turkish capital on Monday, Yesilgoz outlined some of what is expected to be announced, including a partnership with Belgium focused on air defence and a collaboration with Britain involving naval vessels. She also indicated the Netherlands is seeking to expand joint defence projects with Germany.
“We have several levels of plans with countries around us, within NATO,” Yesilgoz said. “For the Netherlands, it will be … well over 3 billion euros that we will have new — not only pledges, but concrete plans.”
The minister held back additional specifics ahead of the formal announcements, which are part of a broader wave of declarations expected from NATO member nations at the forum. The flurry of pledges is designed to demonstrate that alliance members are ramping up their defence budgets — a priority pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump is scheduled to join the leaders of NATO’s 31 other member nations for the summit, which kicks off Tuesday evening with a dinner. The gathering continues Wednesday with a session of the alliance’s top decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council.
When asked whether she felt confident the United States would stay committed to NATO despite Trump’s past remarks questioning his dedication to the alliance, Yesilgoz was measured but firm. “I have to be confident, because I know that we need each other,” she said.
She went on to say that “we need each other … for our own safety and security,” and described it as “healthy for Europe to invest more in its own defence and defence industries regardless of who is at the White House at the moment.”
