MODERN SOLUTIONS FOR MODERN PROBLEMS: THE DUTCH FUTURE DEFENCE POLICY
As warfare in the traditional sense (foreign tanks rolling down the streets) gets highly unlikely, the Dutch Defence Department nevertheless faces new, emerging and harder security issues: such as cyber attacks, attacks on crucial logistical chokepoints and foreign influence in elections aiming to destabilise the nation.
To prepare for the future the Dutch Defence department released its modernisation plans in the “Defensievisie 2035”. It is stated that it wishes to double its current budget to $30 billion to modernising the nation’s security to its full potential. Furthermore, the Netherlands still needs to meet NATO’s quota for spending 2% of its national budget on defence.
On December 7th 2020, SIB Amsterdam’s Committee of Intellectual Activities (CIA) will invite Luitenant-generaal Wijnen and Majoor Groothedde to give a lecture about Dutch Defence department’s modernisation plans. What do the emerging security issues look like? In what fields of security could the Netherlands improve? What will be needed for that?
Furthermore, Luitenant-generaal Wijnen and Majoor Groothedde will give you perspective on their personal experiences working at the Defence department.
Luitenant-generaal Wijnen - a Dutch Lieutenant-general and the current Vice Chief of Defence and the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army. He has served during multiple missions in Cambodia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan, among others. He received a degree of Master of Military Art and Science, based on his research in the field of interagency cooperation. He has attended the Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’ and worked for the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism. As one of the most significant people in the Dutch defence system and closest advisors of the Dutch Minister of Defence, he will definitely share some interesting insights about the Dutch military plans, and his experiences in general.
Majoor Steffie Groothedde - a Dutch Senior Civil-Military Cooperation Officer (responsible for connecting with civilian agencies) at the 1 CMI Command. In 2017 she served in Mali as Head of U9 at the Headquarters of the UN Mission. She has worked for the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) and for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Her experience combines the fields of military action, international relations and cooperation between the military and the civilians, which will certainly allow her to share some unique stories and answer all our questions.
The lecture will start at 20:00 and last till 21:30. The link to the livestream will be provided by email. You can sign up for the lecture by filling out the Google form underneath: