Cabinet seeks clarity after statements on Russia
Foreign Minister Berendsen adopts Yeşilgöz’s security assessment but does not repeat her description of Russia as an enemy.
Follow-up to: Yeşilgöz now officially calls Russia an enemy Thursday, 8 October 2026, 19:23
The government’s response to Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz’s new rhetoric on Russia remains a subject of debate. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen stresses that Russia is the greatest security threat to Europe, but on Friday did not again use the word ‘enemy’. Prime Minister Rob Jetten says he was not surprised by Yeşilgöz’s wording.
Earlier this week, Yeşilgöz officially called Russia an enemy of the Netherlands. She linked that wording to sabotage, drone attacks and other threats that have increased in Europe, in her view. At the same time, the minister said her choice of words did not mean that the Netherlands was at war or that policy was suddenly changing.
In the Lower House (Tweede Kamer), Berendsen was asked whether he used the same description. According to reports, he answered more cautiously on Friday than he had a day earlier. He maintains the description of Russia as the greatest security threat, but did not adopt the word ‘enemy’. He also said that he had not been informed in advance of Yeşilgöz’s precise wording.
The difference is mainly political and communicative. Substantively, both ministers say that the Netherlands regards the threat from Russia as extremely serious and wants to strengthen security together with European partners and allies. According to Yeşilgöz, this does not change the policy line.
Prime Minister Jetten said he was not surprised by Yeşilgöz’s statement. This appears to leave the cabinet room for different wording, but not for a different security assessment. In a cabinet, it is customary for ministers to present a united line publicly, especially on foreign security.
The Russian embassy in the Netherlands reacted angrily. It said that the Netherlands was choosing a confrontational course with the statement and asked whether Yeşilgöz had spoken on behalf of the entire government. The embassy denied that Russia had aggressive intentions towards Europe or the Netherlands. This is a political reaction from the Russian representation, not an independent assessment of the security situation.
The issue touches on the question of how governments describe threats. The word ‘enemy’ can make clear to the public that a state is regarded as a direct adversary, but it can also create the impression that diplomatic room for manoeuvre or legal restraint is diminishing. The term therefore carries a different connotation from ‘security threat’.
For the Lower House, the main question is whether the choice of words has consequences for defence spending, support for Ukraine, protection against sabotage and relations with allies. Yeşilgöz says that these policy choices have already been made for some time. The opposition may nevertheless call for a formal cabinet position.
For now, no decision has been reported that follows directly from the description. The difference between the ministers is nevertheless a new political fact: the government endorses the seriousness of the Russian threat, but does not use entirely the same words.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Yeşilgöz calls Russia an enemy; Berendsen calls the country the greatest security threat.
- Yeşilgöz says that the policy approach is not suddenly changing.
- Jetten says he was not surprised by her statement.
- The Russian embassy has criticised the description.
Left
Arguments A government must describe threats without using escalatory language that makes diplomacy and international consultation more difficult. The emphasis should be on European cooperation, resilience and support for Ukraine, not on national rhetoric.
Values De-escalation, international cooperation and democratic oversight.
Consequences Stronger language can trigger misunderstandings or counter-reactions. According to this approach, a precise security assessment leaves more room for effective policy.
Centre
Arguments The cabinet must be factually clear about the threat while also preventing a single word from suggesting a policy change. A common government line, based on intelligence and agreements with allies, is institutionally the most important thing.
Values Continuity, administrative prudence and credibility towards allies.
Consequences A visible difference between ministers can damage trust, but complete uniformity is less important than clearly explaining what is and is not changing.
Right
Arguments According to this view, Russia is already behaving as an adversary of the Netherlands and Europe. The government must say so without euphemisms and prepare the public for a prolonged threat, higher defence spending and robust deterrence.
Values National security, deterrence and clear leadership.
Consequences Cautious language can encourage underestimation. Clear descriptions can increase support for resilience, even if they are perceived as diplomatically sharp.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The text sticks to publicly reported statements and does not infer any policy consequence from the rhetorical differences. The ministers’ motives are not supplied.
- confirmed Yeşilgöz called Russia an enemy of the Netherlands. — NOS quotes her statement during consideration of the defence budget. source
- confirmed Yeşilgöz said that the choice of words did not mean that the Netherlands was at war or was choosing a different approach. — This is stated in the NOS report. source
- confirmed Berendsen described Russia as the greatest security threat but did not repeat the word enemy on Friday. — Reported by NOS and WNL. source
- confirmed The Russian embassy protested against the wording. — The reaction appears in the NOS report. source
Editor's note
Yeşilgöz’s, Berendsen’s and Jetten’s statements, as well as the reaction from the Russian embassy, as described by NOS and WNL, are certain. It is not certain whether the difference in wording will lead to lasting friction within the cabinet; no decision on this has been reported.Sources
The story so far
- Thursday, 8 October 2026, 19:23 Yeşilgöz now officially calls Russia an enemy
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 19:45 Cabinet seeks clarity after statements on Russia (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „rusland dilan yeşilgöz”
- NU.nl — „rusland dilan yeşilgöz”
- De Telegraaf — „rusland dilan yeşilgöz”