An alliance, but not unconditional. Netherlands redefines relations with the US in NATO

Relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States have been among the closest in the North Atlantic Alliance for decades. The Netherlands was 1 of the founding countries of NATO, and the United States has been the guarantor of the safety of Western Europe from the beginning. As the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands points out in its authoritative strategical documents, NATO is simply a "fundstone" of the Dutch safety policy and the US is its key military partner. Similarly, the United States Department of State describes the Netherlands as a "reliable and active ally". However, events from the turn of 2025 and 2026 show that this alliance is entering a fresh phase – closer but at the same time more assertive and selective on the side of the Hague.