Dutch defence spending up $1.25 billion in new budget, VVD leader says

FILE PHOTO: Dutch party leader of VVD, Dilan Yesilgoz speaks to the press following the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

The Dutch government aims to increase defence spending by an extra 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) annually from this year, the leader of the VVD party - part of the ruling coalition- Dilan Yesilgoz said in a post on X on Wednesday.

The extra spending was agreed after negotiations between the leaders of the four-party ruling coalition on the government's 2025 budget.

The spending boost will come on top of an increase in military spending of more than 10% to about 24 billion euros a year, announced in September last year.

The stimulus measures will put Dutch defence spending on course to reach 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the first time since NATO allies agreed on that minimum threshold 10 years ago.

The Dutch government had already said it would look for further increases, after U.S. President Donald Trump increased pressure on NATO countries to spend more on their armed forces.

Yesilgoz offered no details on the new spending push, as the plans need to be formally approved in a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters