Dutch intel warns Europe must take charge of its own security

Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security as long-standing Western alliances come under increasing strain, the Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD said on Tuesday in its annual report for 2025.

The warning was issued by MIVD Director Peter Reesink, who said the global order that Europe has relied on for decades is facing mounting pressure.

“The international system we have relied on for decades — with institutions acting as guardians of rules and agreements — is under pressure,” Reesink said in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “It is precisely in this space, where rules blur, and power becomes more decisive, that threats grow. Europe must increasingly take responsibility for its own security.”

According to the report, shifting geopolitical dynamics, including China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, are contributing to instability and testing the resilience of Western alliances.

The agency also highlighted risks stemming from the spillover of other conflicts, including tensions linked to the US-Venezuelan confrontation and ongoing instability in the Middle East, warning that these developments could directly affect the Netherlands and its national interests.

In addition, MIVD raised concerns about cybersecurity threats, cautioning that the risk of Chinese cyberattacks is growing and is expected to increase further over the course of the year.

By Tamilla Hasanova