On 20 February, Minister Klever unveiled her new policy. After eight months of waiting, what we got was a plan centred on centralisation and control in The Hague. This comes at the expense of human dignity, social cohesion, and the Netherlands’ geopolitical interests.
What does this policy entail? Equality and women’s rights are being sidelined. Support via embassies is being withdrawn, and civil society organisations are being reduced to mere executors of government policy instead of independent drivers of change. But real stability is not achieved simply by safeguarding national interests. It requires investment in education, justice, and inclusion—especially for the most vulnerable. When inequality increases, so does the breeding ground for conflict and instability.
Human dignity as a political bargaining chip
By treating women’s rights as a secondary issue, Klever undermines stability and security. Women play a crucial role in peacebuilding and reconstruction. In Nigeria, female religious leaders prevent radicalisation by offering young people opportunities. In Colombia, women protect Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities from land grabs and violence. When women are pushed aside, societies lose their strength and resilience. Without their involvement, the risk of conflict rises, inequality deepens, and social tensions escalate.
The strength of minorities
How a society treats its minorities is a measure of its level of civilisation. Religious minorities build bridges, provide aid, and contribute to social cohesion. Yet Klever disregards their role. This is a missed opportunity: supporting religious minorities is not just a human rights issue—it is also a strategic necessity for stability. In countries like Pakistan and Iraq, religious communities work together to foster peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. Without these initiatives, polarisation and extremism will grow.
A disjointed foreign policy
Klever treats defence, international development, diplomacy, and trade as separate matters. Yet without international development, there are no stable markets; without diplomacy, there is no geopolitical influence. The work of organisations like Mensen met een Missie is vital in preventing radicalisation and strengthening social structures. This requires collaboration between governments and civil society organisations, ensuring that economic interests do not overshadow social stability.
Klever fails to see the link between international development and geopolitics. She is turning her back on the Great Lakes region, even though our economy relies on raw materials from this area. Instability there means higher prices here and greater influence for China and Russia. This policy harms the Netherlands in the long run. A sustainable economy cannot exist without international stability and fair trade—something that can only be achieved if the Netherlands continues to invest in diplomacy and international development.
Who benefits from this?
The Netherlands has a long tradition of commerce, but trade can only flourish in a stable world. Business requires peace, legal certainty, and a geopolitical environment where rules are upheld, and treaties are respected. And that takes more than military power or trade missions. It demands a foreign policy that recognises how diplomacy, security, trade, and international development reinforce one another. And it requires a government that understands that social stability does not arise out of nowhere—it is built by people, by communities, by leaders who have local trust and work towards something greater than themselves.
This policy serves neither the Netherlands nor the people striving for a dignified existence. The Netherlands needs a policy that prioritises humanity, cooperation, and strategic self-interest. Only then can we build a safe and prosperous future—for the Netherlands and the world.
