The Russians might acquire sophisticated machinery via Dutch firms and thereby avoid sanctions imposed by Europe. The Dutch intelligence community has identified dozens of firms as possible participants.
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| [Rotterdam, Netherlands] |
It is believed that the Russian military intelligence agency GRU established a significant number of firms in the Netherlands in order to purchase goods that Russia is unable to get at this time as a direct result of the sanctions. Jan Swillens, the head of the Dutch military intelligence and security agency (MIVD), recently gave an interview to the Dutch newspaper "FD," in which he disclosed that hundreds of businesses will be participating.
Advanced sensors, radars, marine technology, and microprocessors are now in the possession of the Russian government thanks to a network of middlemen, consultants, and individual contractors. Products that may be utilized in both the civilian and military sectors are also in great demand, such as specialized coatings for vehicles or rubber. Examples of such products are rubber and coatings.
It would seem that the Netherlands are becoming a favored playground for intelligence agencies from other countries. Recently, members of the Iranian Embassy's diplomatic staff in the Netherlands videotaped individuals participating in demonstrations against the Iranian government. And only a week ago, it was reported in the media that China was deploying Chinese police to exert pressure on dissidents living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands by using two wholly unlawful "police stations" that were located in the Netherlands. A matter that is now being discussed in France as well.
The Dutch Assembly has expressed their desire to have the government take measures to combat these unlawful actions. It is shameful that the Dutch high-tech industry is helping to the Russian military machine without their knowledge. These businesses need a more proactive defense on the part of the government. MP Hind Dekker-Abdulaziz, who belongs to the liberal D66 party, which is one of the parties in the current coalition, said that it is critical that this practice be terminated as quickly as possible.
In response to a question from the French daily "Les Echos," the MIVD refused to provide specifics on the suspected activities of the GRU, saying instead that "this has been going on for some time." We are now advising businesses in the high-tech industry, as well as all other types of businesses, to be attentive and to investigate the objectives of their clients. The nationality of individuals who establish a new company in the Netherlands is not routinely recorded, as stated by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel). As a result, there is no information available about the number of Russian businesses now operating inside the country, and it is unknown if this number has grown since the beginning of the conflict.
If Russia had decided to establish a corporation of this kind anywhere other than the Netherlands, it would have done it there as well. According to Bart Groothuis, a member of the European Parliament for the Renew group from the Netherlands, "We also see similar structures with corporations from the rest of Europe." A closer working relationship between European intelligence agencies is what the lawmaker thinks is needed to combat the spread of activities like these.
"The solution lies in the creation of a European 'Five Eyes,' equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon model," said the parliamentarian, referring to the system of cooperation between the intelligence services of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, from Australia and New Zealand. "The solution lies in the creation of a European 'Five Eyes,' equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon model," said the parliamentarian. Under this scenario, the member states of the European Union and the institutions of the EU would discuss sensitive matters between themselves in the context of a small, select group of officials.
However, according to Bart Groothuis, it is very necessary for the member states to increase their level of confidence in one another. "Paris' suspicion of some nations that prefer to collaborate with the United States or the United Kingdom really has to fade," he added. "The United States and the United Kingdom are two of the most powerful countries in the world." An open letter from the MEP to the Elysée, in which he accuses the French government of harboring suspicions against governments that are more Atlanticist than France, namely the Netherlands and Denmark.