Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister VVD party leader Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius speaks during a weekly press conference following 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
The U.S.’ call for allies to step up defense spending is legitimate, according to Dutch deputy prime minster Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius.
Speaking to CNBC’s Sri Jegarajah on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Yesilgoz said that before the Ukraine war broke out, the Netherlands had relied a lot on allies.
“So I think this is a very clear message, and it’s very important that every NATO ally has to make sure that we invest enough the 5% we agreed upon during the Hague summit. The Netherlands is doing this, and I urge also other countries to do so,” she added.
Back in June 2025, NATO countries — except Spain — had committed to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, split into 3.5% for direct spending and 1.5% for related spending.
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 the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, there is huge support for extra defense spending, she said.
“I always say, you have a choice, you’re either on the menu or you’re having a seat at the table, and if you don’t step up with your defense spending… then you will 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-Zegerius
Netherlands Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.
Amsterdam spent about 2.2% of its GDP on defense in 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Her comments also come as U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took aim at European countries during his speech at the Dialogue, saying that Washington will no longer subsidize the defense of “wealthy nations.”
“For too long, polite pleas [to] our European allies to spend more on their own defense fell on deaf ears. They are finally playing catch up,” Hegseth said.
Yesilgoz said that it was “very, very important to make sure that we share the burden, because it is a collective one.”
She admitted that Amsterdam needs to be able to defend itself, but it is not in that position yet, and the country needs to “step it up.”
“You have a choice, you’re either on the menu or you’re having a seat at the table, and if you don’t step up with your defense spending… then you will be on the menu,” she said. “I don’t want the Dutch, the Netherlands to be on the menu, I want to have a voice at the table.”
