Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands VVD party leader Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius speaks during a weekly press conference after the Council of Ministers in The Hague on April 10, 2026. (Photo by Robin Utrecht/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)/Netherlands Out
Robin Utrecht | AFP | getty images
According to Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, the US call on allies to increase defense spending is legitimate.
Speaking to CNBC’s Mr. Zegarajah on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Yesilgoz said that before the Ukraine war began, the Netherlands had relied heavily on allies.
“So I think that’s a very clear message, and it’s very important that every NATO ally makes sure that we invest substantially in the 5% that we agreed to during the Hague summit. The Netherlands is doing that, and I urge other countries to do the same.”
In June 2025, NATO countries – except spain – Was Commit to spending 5% of their GDP on defence, divided into 3.5% for direct expenditure and 1.5% for allied expenditure.
Yesilgoz also pointed out that five years ago, it would have been impossible for the Dutch public to support such an increase in defense spending, but after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been overwhelming support for additional defense spending, he said.
“I always say, you have a choice, either you’re on the menu or you have a seat at the table, and if you don’t increase your defense spending… you’ll be on the menu, and I don’t want the Dutch, the Netherlands to be on the menu, I want to have a voice at the table.”
Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegarius
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the Netherlands.
According to , Amsterdam will spend about 2.2% of its GDP on defense in 2025 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
His comments also come as US War Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at European countries during his speech at the Dialogue, saying Washington would no longer subsidize the defense of “wealthy countries”.
Hegseth said, “For too long, polite pleas to our European allies to spend more on their defense have fallen on deaf ears. They are finally trying to catch up.”
“It is very important to make sure that we share the burden, because it is collective,” Yecilgoz said.
He acknowledged that Amsterdam needs to be able to defend itself, but that it is not in that position yet, and that the country needs to “step it up.”
He said, “You have a choice, either you’re on the menu or you have a seat at the table, and if you don’t increase your defense spending… you’ll be on the menu.” “I don’t want Dutch, Netherlands to be on the menu, I want to have my voice at the table.”