Jaishankar Praises Dutch PM Dick Schoof’s Commitment to Elevating India-Netherlands Ties

May 20, 2025: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, marking a significant step in strengthening India-Netherlands relations. During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lauded Schoof’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation.

In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote,“Delighted to call on PM Dick Schoof today in The Hague. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM Narendra Modi and thanked him for the Netherlands’ firm and resolute stance against terrorism. Appreciate his commitment to taking the India-Netherlands partnership to newer heights. Assured that our teams will work hard to achieve these goals.”

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Earlier on Monday, Jaishankar also met with Ruben Brekelmans, the Dutch Minister of Defence, to discuss growing security challenges across Europe and Asia and to explore avenues for a bilateral defence partnership.

Brekelmans emphasized the importance of strong India-Netherlands ties in the current geopolitical climate.“In these turbulent times, close cooperation with India is more important than ever,” he said in a post on X. “Great honour to receive Minister of Foreign Affairs S Jaishankar. We discuss security challenges in Asia/Europe and our Defence partnership. Looking forward to deepening our cooperation!”Jaishankar echoed these sentiments, highlighting the value of collaborative security efforts.“Pleased to meet Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans in The Hague today. Exchanged views on our respective security perspectives and challenges. Also spoke about the benefits of forging a bilateral defence partnership,” he posted.

Jaishankar’s visit to the Netherlands is part of his broader official tour of the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, scheduled from May 19 to 24. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit aims to review and expand the full range of bilateral ties and engage in discussions on key global and regional issues.

The visit also follows recent international expressions of solidarity with India after the Pahalgam terror attack, with the Netherlands among the countries voicing strong support.