Mark Rutte

Nato targets 5% defence spending to appease Trump

The transatlantic security alliance is reportedly eyeing the biggest military spending increase since the Cold War.

14 May 2025 - 2:05PMvideocam

Marco Rubio says US committed to Nato but tells allies to spend more

3 Apr 2025 - 7:39PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why are so many countries rethinking their relations with China?

21 Mar 2024 - 9:01PMvideocam

Dutch far-right firebrand Geert Wilders says won’t be PM

The far-right politician, whose anti-Islam, anti-migrant rhetoric swept him to a shock election victory, does not have support of all parties in his coalition.

14 Mar 2024 - 10:56AM

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders. Photo: AFP

Semiconductors

Netherlands seeks to prevent ASML expansion abroad, report says

The Dutch government is exploring ways to keep ASML from expanding outside the Netherlands after the chip-machinery maker raised concerns about the country’s business climate.

7 Mar 2024 - 3:07PM

Zelensky calls for more Western air defence systems to ‘save lives’

‘We need to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield to add more protection for our people from Russian terror.’

2 Mar 2024 - 8:39PMvideocam

Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron opened the door to European nations sending troops to Ukraine, although he cautioned that there was no consensus at this stage.

27 Feb 2024 - 11:26AMvideocam

France’s President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP

US, UK back outgoing Dutch PM Rutte to become Nato chief

Mark Rutte is the only official candidate to replace Jens Stoltenberg as secretary general of Nato, which appoints its leader by consensus, requiring the support from all its members.

22 Feb 2024 - 9:34PM

Nato to hold biggest war games since Cold War with 90,000 troops

The exercise will span from North America to Nato’s eastern flank, close to the Russian border, and will involve 50 naval vessels, 80 aircraft and over 1,100 combat vehicles.

19 Jan 2024 - 1:31PM

European Union

As Danish monarch abdicates, more queens in store for Europe amid Gen Z rise

Belgium’s Elisabeth, Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Spain’s Leonor are among the monarchs who will be ascending to thrones in the coming years.

14 Jan 2024 - 4:00PM

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe (left), Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary receive the diplomatic corps at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on January 3. Photo: AP

EU grants Ukraine membership talks but can’t agree financial aid

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked €50 billion in EU aid for Ukraine, after leaders sidestepped his opposition to agree to open talks with Kyiv on joining the bloc.

15 Dec 2023 - 4:09PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks via videolink at the EU Summit in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: EU Council via dpa

Semiconductors

Dutch giant ASML, Samsung sign deal to build chip plant in Korea

The agreement comes during South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s tour of the Netherlands, as he becomes the first Korean leader to visit the European nation since 1961, in hope of forging a ‘chip alliance’.

13 Dec 2023 - 10:56AM

Netherlands far-right’s Geert Wilders scores massive election win

Geert Wilders and his far-right Freedom Party have pulled off an extraordinary political bombshell, a shock result that will resound across Europe.

23 Nov 2023 - 5:10PM

Dutch vote in tight election as far-right jostles to replace PM Rutte

The Netherlands will get its first new prime minister in over a decade in a vote dominated by immigration and climate change.

22 Nov 2023 - 7:11PM

Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes a selfie with election workers at a polling station in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Mark Rutte seizes lead in Nato job race as he exits Dutch politics

Mark Rutte is wrapping up 13 years as the Netherlands’ longest-serving premier. Estonia’s Kaja Kallas and Latvia’s Krisjanis Karins are also possible contenders for the Nato top job.

22 Nov 2023 - 1:27PM

Mark Rutte is wrapping up 13 years as the Netherlands’ longest-serving premier. Photo: Xinhua

Dutch PM Mark Rutte signals interest in Nato’s top job

Dutch PM Mark Rutte said the role as secretary general of would be ‘interesting’, but acknowledged the ‘very big chance’ that the job would go to a female European leader.

28 Oct 2023 - 10:04PM

Semiconductors

Advanced chip in Huawei smartphone produced on ASML machines: sources

SMIC used ASML’s less-advanced DUV machines together with tools from other companies to make the chip used on Huawei's new 5G smartphones, according to people familiar with the matter.

26 Oct 2023 - 1:48PM

Israel-Gaza war

Biden holds calls with key Western allies about Israel-Gaza war

The US president held calls with the leaders of Canada, France, Britain, Germany and Italy, after speaking to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. He also spoke to Pope Francis.

23 Oct 2023 - 8:23AMvideocam

US President Joe Biden during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last week. Photo: AP

Gunman in combat gear kills 3 at Rotterdam house and hospital

Dutch police were investigating the motive of a gunman who went on a shooting rampage at a house and a hospital in Rotterdam, killing a 14-year-old girl, her mother, and a teacher.

29 Sep 2023 - 4:55PM

US-China relations

China to send vice-president – and not top diplomat Wang Yi – to UN meeting

Han Zheng, whose role is largely symbolic, will take part in UN’s annual policymaking sessions in New York next week, but Wang could still make separate US trip.

15 Sep 2023 - 9:10PMvideocam

Ukraine’s Zelensky hails ‘historic’ decision to supply F-16 jets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unannounced quick trips to the Netherlands and Denmark resulted in a significant haul of F-16 fighter jets, expected to improve Kyiv’s capabilities in the sky.

21 Aug 2023 - 11:32AMvideocam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) takes a selfie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during a visit to the Eindhoven Military Air Base in Eindhoven on Sunday. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP

US to send F-16 jets to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands

A US official said the planes will be transferred to Kyiv once the Ukrainian pilots are trained.

18 Aug 2023 - 4:22PMvideocam

Ukraine has actively sought the US-made F-16 fighter jets to help it counter Russian air superiority. File photo: US air force/AFP

European Union

Tunisia and EU sign pact to stem migration and combat human trafficking

. The deal follows weeks of talks and Europe’s pledge of aid to Tunisia amounting to US$1.12 billion to help its economy, state finances and migration crisis.

17 Jul 2023 - 4:06AM

Analysis | Nato papers over cracks after Zelensky loses his cool

Ukrainian president was offered long-term security promises, but given no concrete timeline on joining Nato.

13 Jul 2023 - 2:37PMvideocam

Dutch prime minister resigns amid dispute over migration policy

Earlier on Friday, the four parties in PM Mark Rutte’s ruling bloc failed to broker a deal over ways to rein in migration. The decision by Rutte means the country will face a general election later this year.

8 Jul 2023 - 6:58AM

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday. Photo: AFP

Nato extends chief Stoltenberg’s mandate as Ukraine war drags on

A former prime minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg has been Nato’s top civilian official since 2014 and his term was due to expire last year but was extended then to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

5 Jul 2023 - 8:45AMvideocam

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is regarded as a safe pair of hands. Photo: AP