According to him, Rotterdam is closely coordinating its operations with the neighboring port of Antwerp.
NATO plans and exercises at the port.
The Netherlands and its NATO allies have already committed to increasing military spending to 5% of GDP. In May, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced that Rotterdam, at the request of the alliance, would provide space for several ships with military supplies.
According to Siemons, such ships would stay in the port for several weeks, four to five times a year. The only part of the port where munitions can be safely transferred from one ship to another is the container terminal.
In addition, the Port of Rotterdam will host amphibious military exercises every year. But this is nothing new for the port. Military cargo traffic increased dramatically during the 2003 Gulf War, but even at the height of the Cold War, there was no separate military port here. On the other hand, Antwerp regularly receives cargo for American troops stationed in Europe.
The current measures are part of Europe’s broader preparations for a possible Russian attack. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had warned in June that Russia could attack one of the alliance’s members by 2030.
The EU is preparing a rearmament program worth up to 800 billion euros to increase its defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on the United States. EU creates strategic reserves of raw materials and medicines
The port director has called on the EU to create strategic reserves not only of oil, but also of key materials such as copper, lithium, and graphite.
According to him, the vicinity of ports with developed logistics is ideal for such storage. Part of the Netherlands’ strategic oil reserves is already stored in Rotterdam.
On Tuesday, the EU is to present a new reserve strategy. It will include medical supplies, basic raw materials, energy equipment, as well as possible storage of food and water supplies.