Rotterdam Port Prepares for Potential War With Russia

Europe’s largest port is actively preparing for the possibility of a war with Russia, with measures that include reserving space for NATO military shipments, conducting joint planning with the port of Antwerp, and hosting amphibious military exercises multiple times per year, The Gaze reports, citing The Financial Times.

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said the port is working closely with its Belgian counterpart to manage logistics in case NATO allies like the UK, US, or Canada begin routing military equipment through the region.

“Not every terminal is fit for handling military cargo,” Siemons said. “If large volumes of military goods had to be shipped, we’d look to Antwerp or other ports to take over some capacity and the other way around. We see each other less and less as competitors… we work together where we can.”

Rotterdam’s container terminal is currently the only location in the port where ammunition can be safely transferred between vessels. The Dutch government announced in May that, under NATO’s direction, the port must provide docking space several times a year for large military cargo vessels, each remaining docked for several weeks.

These measures are part of broader European efforts to reinforce defense infrastructure in response to both the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and security demands from U.S. President Donald Trump. The EU is developing a rearmament plan worth up to €800 billion, while the Netherlands has pledged to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Siemons confirmed the port will host military exercises several times a year. “Our teams are working more and more closely together on a number of topics, including on resilience,” he said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how dependent Europe had become on foreign suppliers.

During the 2003 Gulf War, Rotterdam saw a spike in weapons shipments, but not even at the height of the Cold War did it host a dedicated military quay. Now, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warning in June that Russia could attack a member state by 2030, the urgency is increasing.

Rotterdam, stretching 42km along the Meuse River, processes 436 million tonnes of cargo annually, receiving nearly 120,000 sea and river vessels. Following EU sanctions on Russia, the port lost around 8% of its trade — largely crude oil.

Read more on The Gaze: How Europe is Preparing for a Great War