I For me, geopolitics means…

Personal interest and work. I have been interested in geopolitics for a very long time, and that is one of the reasons why I started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through my work, I want to contribute to the influence the Netherlands exerts in the world, even in times of change, such as those we are currently experiencing. This is to promote Dutch interests, such as in the areas of trade and security, but also to uphold our values, such as consolidating the international legal order and multilateralism.

That requires some effort and also means keeping track of developments and trying to interpret them. Experts are needed for that, especially for the interpretation. I also think it’s important to hear different perspectives, for example from various regions of the world. And of course, you have your own information and your own opinion.

I read a lot about geopolitics. For instance, one of the last books I read was *Prisoners of Geography* by Tim Marshall, in which he examines the influence of a state’s geography on geopolitical relations, but classics such as *World Order* and *Diplomacy* by Henry Kissinger also remain relevant to me for interpreting historical developments. Furthermore, Ruben Terlou’s TV series on the South China Sea provides good insights into what the geopolitical situation looks like on the other side of the world. And it makes you think about the consequences it has for us. It also shows that our regions, despite the distance, are interconnected.

II Geopolitics matters for the Netherlands

Certainly. It always has; just look at the period after the Second World War, when there were broadly two geopolitical camps: the capitalist US and the communist Soviet Union. The Netherlands also made geopolitical choices back then, formed alliances to safeguard its interests and worked on our economic reconstruction through the Marshall Plan. Furthermore, the Netherlands was one of the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community, the forerunner of the EU, which was initially intended – successfully – to prevent a new arms race between the geopolitical rivals Germany and France and to promote economic cooperation.

Or consider, for example, the role of the Netherlands as a merchant and minister, with a focus on trade and profit on the one hand and upholding Western Christian values on the other, a role we have played in the past as a geopolitical actor in large parts of the world.

What may be different today is that geopolitics and the pursuit of interests are being articulated more explicitly and play a more prominent role in everyday reality. If you look at the current geopolitical situation, it is increasingly about hard power politics, transactionalism and the expansion of the spheres of influence of the major powers, the US and China. This threatens to put the international legal order, multilateralism and our values under increasing pressure.

And as a middle power, the Netherlands stands to benefit from a strong international

legal order and a well-functioning multilateral system, such as the UN. That is why the Netherlands is working with the EU, amongst other things, to strengthen our resilience and prosperity and to reduce our undesirable strategic dependencies, such as on essential raw materials and technologies.

III The Netherlands matters geopolitically

Like other middle powers, the Netherlands wants to count. And the Netherlands does matter. We regularly hear that the Netherlands punches above its weight in terms of influence and, thanks to our polder model, is also good at forming coalitions with other countries and partners.

The EU also plays an important role in this. With 27 member states, you have more influence in the world than as a single member state. At the same time, the EU has a reputation for being primarily preoccupied with itself, but that is not true. Developments in the world, such as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and rising tensions in other parts of the world, are prompting the EU to assert itself as a geopolitical player, for example through military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine or participation in Operation ATALANTA, which is aimed, among other things, at keeping waterways safe and preventing the disruption of supply chains in the western Indian Ocean.

Furthermore, the EU is positioning itself as a geopolitical actor and a reliable partner for other countries that do not wish to choose between the major powers. A greater focus on partnerships, based on shared values and mutual interest, gives the Netherlands and the EU the opportunity to build a stable and sustainable future in which the international legal order and multilateralism have a place.

IV Geopolitics influences my work

Certainly, geopolitics influences my work almost daily. I focus on the Indo-Pacific, the world’s most important region for economic growth and, increasingly, a geopolitical centre of gravity. The Netherlands is a trading nation with Europe’s largest port in Rotterdam; 40% of European imports and 35% of European exports pass through the shipping routes in the Indo-Pacific. Our interests are therefore significant.

Stability and prosperity in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are interlinked, and it is in the Netherlands’ interest that maritime security and freedom of navigation are guaranteed. The Netherlands wishes to contribute to this, amongst other things by sending a frigate to the region every two years. We are currently, together with the Ministry of Defence, preparing for the deployment of a frigate, which is likely to sail to the Indo-Pacific later this year. This would be the third time this has happened. In doing so, the Netherlands demonstrates its commitment and reliability as a partner in the Indo-Pacific region, and we strengthen bilateral relations with countries through port visits and participation in joint maritime exercises.

I believe that these times of geopolitical uncertainty also present opportunities. In the Indo-Pacific, there is growing rivalry between China and the United States, and countries in the region do not want to be forced to choose between these superpowers. The EU and its Member States are therefore increasingly seen as attractive partners in various fields, such as trade, security and innovation, and we must capitalise on this.

V My colleagues also deal with geopolitics

Yes, directly or indirectly, my colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also deal with geopolitics. We follow global developments closely, but so do other departments, such as the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

In my role, I naturally work closely with my immediate colleagues, but also with other departments, particularly the Ministry of Defence and the Dutch embassies. This involves identifying shared interests and seeing where we can strengthen each other and achieve results as effectively as possible. The deployment of the frigate I mentioned earlier is a good example of this, but there are other examples, such as providing training on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

VI I know where I can and/or must obtain my geopolitical knowledge today

That can be tricky at times. You have the appropriate sources, such as reports from our embassies and reports from think tanks such as The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) and the Clingendael Institute. In addition, I regularly see and hear the same experts, for example on radio and TV, where often the same messages are being put across. Sometimes I miss the perspective of other experts from the rest of the world who can offer a broader view.

Furthermore, our ministry has the Strategic Policy Unit, which deals with this topic and regularly organises sessions to which, for example, experts from the region and critical thinkers are invited, who can hold up a mirror to us. I think that is necessary and find it refreshing. It is also good to step back from the issues of the day on a regular basis and take the time to think about the medium and long term as well.

VII Our public administration could do better at anticipating geopolitical developments

I believe that public administration is increasingly taking geopolitical developments into account; this also applies, for example, to local government, such as municipalities that have links with twin towns in other countries. We are working on this at all levels.

Anticipating geopolitical developments requires extra effort, expertise and a comprehensive assessment of all interests, including those of the Netherlands. As a ministry, we are certainly moving in that direction. For a number of years now, for instance, we have had the China Knowledge Network, through which we invest in knowledge and awareness of China within central government. In addition, we are focusing more on developing knowledge about India, as this country too is playing an increasingly important geopolitical role.

Furthermore, we hold regular interdepartmental consultations with various countries and regions, such as the US and Asia, during which geopolitical developments are discussed. In this way, geopolitical developments can be taken into account in any policy and action options.

VIII Geopolitics requires new ways of thinking and collaborating

We observe that the geopolitical landscape is becoming increasingly transactional and that the stakes are rising, which calls for a proactive approach, such as greater emphasis on partnerships and investment in resilience. This was also recommended, among other things, in the report by the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) entitled ‘The Netherlands in a Fragmenting World Order’.

Here too, there is a role for the EU, which can operate more decisively, and we are working on this. An example of this is the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which involves entering into new and deeper partnerships with third countries where the Netherlands can play an added role, thanks to our extensive experience in combining aid and trade.

IX I can translate geopolitical and theoretical knowledge into practically relevant information

I believe we are getting better and better at this, and not just me, but also my colleagues are working on it. I am currently delving into Strategic Foresight to better respond to uncertain situations and incomplete information, on the basis of which you can make policy proposals, convey strategic messages and examine how this affects your interests and values. At the same time, this is not the first time we have had to deal with shifting geopolitical relations, and I believe that the Netherlands has always stood for a realistic foreign policy in the past and continues to do so today.

X Final remarks

Geopolitics is a complex game, of which the rules are not immediately clear, and even when they are, they change again. The challenge lies in staying on the ball, safeguarding the Netherlands’ interests and defending our values. We are all working day and night to keep the world safe and secure our interests, preferably in collaboration with partners across the globe.

Note: This version has been translated, please find the original version here.