The Netherlands' defense ministry has announced a major plan to “future-proof” the country's military, including buying more F-35 fighter jets and the return of a Dutch tank battalion as it gears up to face a world of expanding threats.
FILE - Incoming Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans arrives to be sworn in at royal palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, Netherlands , Tuesday, July 2, 2024. THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands ’ defense ministry announced a major plan to “future-proof” the country’s military on Thursday, including buying more F-35 fighter jets and the return of a Dutch tank battalion as it gears up to face a world of expanding threats.
The funding boost should ensure the Dutch government remains above the military alliance’s goal of member states spending at least 2% of GDP on defense. Dutch military spending this year already was expected to exceed the 2% target.
The Netherlands phased out its own tanks more than a decade ago, although it still is part of a joint tank battalion with neighboring Germany. In addition to new tanks and more F-35 jets, the white paper calls for new anti-submarine frigates and new weapons systems for the navy. He said that one shortfall was not increasing the number of army battalions to NATO levels. NATO calls for four and the Netherlands has only two, Zandzee said.
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