Dutch intelligence cuts back on US cooperation over political concerns

The Netherlands has begun to curtail the volume of intelligence it shares with the United States, citing growing concerns over political developments during President Donald Trump’s administration, and broader issues surrounding the politicization of intelligence and respect for human rights.

The heads of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) — Erik Akerboom and Peter Reesink, respectively — confirmed that both agencies have become more selective in their cooperation with the CIA and NSA, NL Times reports.

“That we sometimes no longer tell certain things, that’s true,” said Reesink. Akerboom added, “Sometimes you have to think case by case: can I still share this information or not?”

While both intelligence chiefs emphasized that operational relations with American agencies remain “excellent,” they acknowledged that the Dutch stance has become “more critical” in recent years.

Amid changing transatlantic dynamics, the Netherlands has significantly intensified its intelligence cooperation within Europe. “We have scaled up enormously,” said Akerboom, referring to a growing coalition of Northern European intelligence services — including the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, France, and Poland — that now exchange information more deeply and regularly.

The war in Ukraine and Russia’s escalating threat to European security have accelerated this regional collaboration. Reesink noted that a similar trend is taking shape within the sphere of military intelligence, as European partners look to bolster collective resilience against foreign threats.

Both Akerboom and Reesink underscored a persistent and increasingly aggressive cyber threat emanating from Russia and China. Russian intelligence, they said, successfully carries out “dozens of successful hacks” on Dutch targets each year, including both public institutions and private companies. “In places where we are really affected,” Akerboom noted.

China, meanwhile, is emerging as a cyber superpower. Akerboom warned that Beijing is now technologically on par with Washington in the cyber domain. He raised particular alarm over “close-access operations” targeting Dutch citizens traveling to China — especially journalists, senior government officials, and employees in high-tech sectors.

During these operations, Chinese intelligence services reportedly gain physical or remote access to devices such as smartphones and laptops, extracting data that is later analyzed using advanced artificial intelligence systems. “People really need to be aware of that: their devices are vulnerable,” Akerboom cautioned.