Outgoing Dutch PM criticised for F-16 deliveries to Ukraine

Dutch far left and right parties criticised outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) for circumventing parliament following his announcement on Sunday that the country would provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

Rutte’s announcement came during a surprise visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Netherlands, with the two leaders meeting at Eindhoven Airport. Rutte emphasised in July that support for Ukraine – and thus Dutch participation in the F-16 fighter jet coalition – would not be affected by the fall of the Dutch cabinet.

However, according to some lawmakers, such an important decision requires parliamentary consultation.

“Supply of F-16s to Ukraine is a far-reaching decision that must be discussed with the House of Representatives first. Especially when a government is outgoing,” Socialist MP Jasper van Dijk (SP/EU Left) tweeted.

Van Dijk added a number of parliamentary questions he had for Rutte, including whether the F-16s may be used on Russian territory and how the decision is supposed to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.

Meanwhile, the far-right Forum for Democracy (FvD/ID) expressed a preoccupation with Ukraine over potentially bombing Russian targets.

“Madness. Dutch F-16s to Ukraine to bomb Russian targets with. Even now that Rutte is outgoing, he is dragging the Netherlands further into war. And he can because all parties in the House of Representatives support him in his warmongering,” the party tweeted.

FvD leader Thierry Baudet has frequently made statements supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Back in 2020, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) questioned him about his party’s possible infiltration by Russian officials and spies.

The Netherlands declared its willingness to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine back in May when it announced the formation of a joint coalition with the UK, which was subsequently joined by a number of other countries. This followed months of lobbying by Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy.

(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)