NATO Faces Risk of War, Says Netherlands Chief of Defense
Dutch defense chief warns NATO that Russia remains a serious threat and Europe must be ready.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform.
During a recent visit to Ukraine, General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defense Staff of the Netherlands Armed Forces, visited Kyiv, Odesa, and their surroundings and gave a detailed assessment of the current military situation. He warned that the war could affect Europe and called for constant preparedness for a possible invasion, including violations of airspace by drones or aircraft.
According to him, even after the war in Ukraine ends, it will take Russia 18-24 months to restore its capabilities for further aggressive actions.
“And the only way, as I said, to show Russia that we are ready is to deter it, to be strong and to have armed forces ready to defend, together with the Baltic countries,” he said.
Ukraine, according to the General, is a critical part of European security and plays an important role in preventing new attacks by Russia.
He noted the resilience of the Ukrainian people despite nightly drone attacks that cause power outages and damage critical infrastructure.
Eichelsheim toured drone manufacturing and countermeasure facilities and was impressed by the intensity of the work: workshops operating at night and thousands of workers manufacturing and refining UAVs.
The General also noted that Ukrainian units have made significant progress in drone warfare tactics. He sees this as a learning opportunity for the Netherlands and other partners—many of the practices implemented in Ukraine can be adapted for their own armed forces.
In addition, the officer visited the F-16 training programs and emphasized how quickly Ukrainian crews have mastered the aircraft and are using them effectively.
“We also met with the President and the Minister of Defense to discuss broader areas of cooperation (strengthening air defense, drone capabilities, artillery, and long-range strike systems) and how we can continue to help Ukraine,” he said.
He also met with the commander of the Ukrainian Navy to discuss training on mine defense ships.
In terms of production, Eichelsheim said that Dutch factories are already supplying Ukraine with FPV drones and disposable strike UAVs.
Large-scale production lines have been opened in Borne, and an expansion of production is being considered. Joint production with Ukrainian companies is also planned, following the Danish model — Dutch companies will manufacture drones for Ukraine, benefiting both the Dutch defense sector and accelerating deliveries to Ukraine.
Earlier, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans has announced a new €200 million military aid package for Ukraine, aimed at strengthening countermeasures against Russian drones and developing defense cooperation between the two countries.
In addition to financial assistance, a memorandum of cooperation was signed within the Build with Ukraine initiative, opening up opportunities for the creation of joint Ukrainian-Dutch defense enterprises.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the Netherlands has pledged €10 million to a British-led initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s cybersecurity amid ongoing Russian hybrid attacks.
Read more on The Gaze: Why the “Drone Wall” is Needed for NATO and Ukraine