Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands 4.2 Defend The threat environment and its analysis call for investments in the defence of the people and territory of the Netherlands. Below is an overview of are the goals aimed at keeping the Netherlands, the Kingdom and the North Atlantic Treaty area secure by means of modern self-defence. Goal 5: M  odern collective self-defence and protection of Dutch and NATO territory NATO NATO is of fundamental importance for the Netherlands’ security, and key to the government’s fulfilment of its constitutional duty to guarantee Dutch security. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which enshrines transatlantic solidarity between NATO member states, is essential in deterring potential enemies. After many years of focusing on expeditionary operations, there is a growing emphasis on collective defence within NATO. Yet crisis management and capacity-building in third countries remain crucial as forms of forward defence. | 30 | NATO NATO focuses on threats on Europe’s eastern and southern flanks. Collective defence is an important priority in these regions. The Alliance also conducts an ongoing dialogue with Russia to prevent escalation and misunderstandings. It contributes to stability, counterterrorism and efforts to combat irregular immigration, for example by giving training and advice to partner countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands The basic principle remains maintaining a single set of forces. In the event of emergencies, such as attacks on Dutch or allied territory, it should in principle be possible to deploy the entire armed forces. To take all the necessary measures and meet NATO’s capability objectives, steps are needed in line with the agreements made at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales to work towards a defence budget of 2% of GDP in 2024. The Defence White Paper specifies what those steps will be during this government’s term of office. NATO has pointed out that these extra investments will not fully or adequately enable us to meet many of the capability objectives it asks of us. Our striking power – what we can actually provide – and our sustainment capability – how long we can continue to provide it – need to be further strengthened. A possible extra step will be considered at an appropriate time during this government’s term of office depending on the overall situation, including the security situation, government-wide priorities and the agreed budgetary frameworks. Deterrence is needed in new domains like cyber warfare, alongside conventional and nuclear deterrence. The Netherlands will therefore continue to meet its commitments regarding NATO’s nuclear tasks. At the same time, nuclear doctrines need to be modified, with security and stability as their main focus. The Netherlands supports a NATO nuclear policy that combines nuclear deterrence with arms control measures, in a way that provides the best possible guarantee for Dutch security. Although the Netherlands has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we must anticipate this treaty’s possible impact on existing instruments and on NATO policy. We can expect certain countries to use the ban to increase pressure on NATO’s nuclear policy. EU Global Strategy This makes strengthening the Netherlands’ armed forces vital. The choices laid out in the Defence White Paper, including a greater emphasis on preventive security policy, modern self-defence and promotion of the international legal order, tie in closely with the IISS. When replacing and investing in military capabilities, our broad strategic priorities and goals for security policy are the starting point. New, high-tech, often hybrid threats require modernisation and investment in the digital domain, intelligence, countermessaging and strategic communication, maritime security and counterterrorism. Major points for attention here are higher levels of readiness and deployability, and the previously planned investments in combat support (enablers) are much needed to achieve this. The armed forces' three core tasks remain of undiminished importance. In fact, due to greater instability in many countries on the periphery of Europe, collective self-defence (core task 1) and promoting the international legal order (core task 2) demand even greater exertion. The need to deploy the armed forces for their third core task – supporting the civil authorities – has also grown. The EU Global Strategy, presented in 2016, gives a sharper focus to the Union’s foreign and security policy. The strategy’s main priority is protecting the security, interests and values of the EU. It emphasises promoting security, stability and conflict prevention outside the EU, especially in the unstable regions around Europe. The strategy also prioritises international security cooperation and promotion of the international legal order. The EU In light of the trends and threats described above, EU government leaders decided in 2016 that Europe must take greater responsibility for, and invest more in, its own security. This means strengthening EU security and defence policy and capabilities.12 One important step is the establishment of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on defence, in which the Netherlands and 24 other EU member states are taking part. A European 12. This idea is reflected, for example, in the 2016 EU Global Strategy for the Union’s foreign and security policy. | 31 |