25 June 2025

Looking Back - Clingendael at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague

By Monika Sie Dhian Ho, Bob Deen, Rem Korteweg , + 12
© Industry Defence Forum

From taking the stage in high-level sessions, bringing together thought leaders to offering expert commentary in the media – Let's look back at key contributions by Clingendael during the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.

 

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First reactions after the NATO Summit

Bob Deen shares his insight right after reading the NATO Summit Declaration on Dutch national TV, addressing the general public in the video below and the youth here.

Dick Zandee said: 'There will be a monitoring system whereby each member state must report annually on the steps taken to achieve the goals. However, exceptions may still be negotiated. Ukraine also remains a potential divisive issue.'

There is a new NATO standard, but spending a lot of money and meanwhile watching it go well is very complex, says Adriaan Schout. How will they supervise? The EU already has great difficulty with that, will NATO work similarly?''

 

 

Defence Industry Forum

24 June

Monika Sie Dhian Ho led a conversation with Secretary General of the NATO Mark Rutte and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the importance of the cooperation between the European Union and NATO and what more could be done to drive innovation and industrial production. Rutte emphasised the significant steps the Alliance is taking to strengthen its defence industrial capacity, increase cooperation, enhance innovation, and expand hundreds of new and existing production lines (NATO).

In the media 

"Increasing defence production only works if ‘the EU makes temporary exceptions to the free-market economy’ by giving arms companies priority in the steel and chips market. That is politically very sensitive, as is relaxing environmental laws."

- says defence expert Dick Zandee, in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant

 

NATO Public Forum

24 and 25 June

A Strong Ukraine for a Just and Lasting Peace

On the first day of the NATO Public Forum, Caspar Veldkamp (Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs), Rustem Umerov (Ukrainian Minister of Defence), and John Healey (UK Secretary of State for Defence) discussed how to help Ukraine defend itself, deter aggression and what it will take to ensure a peace that lasts. Moderated by  Bob Deen (Head of Clingendael's Security Unit).

Hear how Rustem Umerov, Ukranian defence minister, assesses the battlefield situation. Watch full session here. 

In the media (Dutch video)

President Zelensky of Ukraine wants his presence at the NATO summit to send a message to Russia that NATO allies continue to support him, says Julia Soldatiuk-Westerveld.

 

 

Looking Ahead at Today's North Atlantic Council

On the second day, Rem Korteweg, Lead of our US Programme  took part in a panel with Liana Fix, Council on Foreign Relations, Camille Grand, Europe Council on Foreign Relations, and Rob de Wijk, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, moderated by Ikenna Azuike.

Rem Korteweg discusses the alliance's near future. Watch full session here.

 

In the media (Dutch video)

Why is the meeting of heads of state at the NATO summit not public? Karen van Loon answers several viewer questions (in Dutch).

 

 

NATO in the Huis

24 and 25 June

 

Clingendael and the Munich Security Conference joined forces to create a hub for strategic dialogue, "NATO in the Huis", in The Hague, bringing together stakeholders across the transatlantic community to discuss Ukraine, NATO, and the shifting global order. The first day concluded with the Night Cap Session “From Maidan to multipolarization: Ukraine, NATO and a new world order”, a frank conversation with tough questions from the crowd, featuring Olha Stefanisjyna (Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Chris Coons (US Senator) and Stephan Kornelius (Federal Government Spokesperson, Germany), moderated by Bob Deen (Head Clingendael's Security Unit). 

 

Clingendael Thought Leaders Dinner

23 June

 

Clingendael kicked off the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague by bringing together thought leaders, like fellow think tank experts, policymakers, and journalists, at a special dinner at the Huys. The guest of honour for the evening was the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, who was accompanied by the new Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Andriy Kostin.

 

Defence Captains of Industry Dinner

23 June

Rem Korteweg moderates session

Hosted by VNO-NCW and the US Chamber of Commerce, this event brought together defence industry leaders from across NATO member states to discuss how to strengthen both our economic resilience and security. Rem Korteweg, Lead of our Clingendael US programme, was Chairman of the evening and moderated four keynotes and two panel discussions with Trans-Atlantic defence industry companies. 

 

More media highlights

Videos in Dutch 

"America spends about twice as much on defence as all other NATO countries put together. They have a military presence in a lot of places, including Europe. Europe knows that that presence is under pressure,” says Louise Van Schaik (Dutch).

 

Can't the NATO summit be held online? Koen Aartsma answers the question.

 

Clingendael publications and videos

Find our latest publications and our video series 'Your NATO questions answered' on our NATO Summit page. 

Authors

Bob Deen
Bob Deen
Head of Security Unit / Lead Russia and Eastern Europe Centre / Senior Research Fellow
Rem Korteweg
Rem Korteweg
Programme Lead Geopolitics of Trade / Lead Clingendael US Programme / Senior Research Fellow
Louise van Schaik
Louise van Schaik
Head of Unit EU & Global Affairs / Programme Lead Critical Resources / Senior Research Fellow
Koen Aartsma
Koen Aartsma
Programme Lead Strategic Foresight and Intelligence / Senior Research Fellow