The Netherlands is an open society. We work together with partners, both at home and abroad, and this cooperative approach has done a great deal for our community. But the world is changing: we have become more dependent on digital technology. The economy, our security and the geopolitical landscape are becoming ever more intertwined. While all these developments offer opportunities, they also entail risks to national security.
State actors are becoming increasingly assertive about pursuing their national interests, and they are prepared tot use tactics that can undermine our prosperity, stability and openness, whether by design or inadvertently. In both cases we use the term ‘state threat’. We seek to protect our way of life from such threats.
Transcription Animation State Threats
A voice-over can be heard in this animation. What the voice-over says is preceded by [voice-over].
[Start]
[Voice-over] The Netherlands has an open society and an open economy.
[Animation] An icon of the Netherlands appears and disappears. Then two hands appear, holding a white square. In that square, an icon appears that symbolizes open society and then an icon that symbolizes open economy.
[Voice-over] These elements form the basis of our prosperity and the way we organise our society.
[Animation] The whole disappears from view. We now see a transparent square of orange dotted lines. An icon that symbolizes prosperity appears in the square. The square becomes larger and another icon appears, symbolizing society. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] But the world is changing.
[Animation] A globe appears. An orange arrow with a dotted line rotates around the world. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] The economy, geopolitics and security are becoming more closely intertwined.
[Animation] An icon appears that symbolizes the economy. Then an icon appears that symbolizes geopolitics, and finally an icon appears that symbolizes security. These three icons are connected with orange dotted lines, creating a triangle. The dotted lines disappear and the icons move closer together, so that they touch each other. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] Some countries are increasingly putting their own interests at the forefront, and in doing so they are prepared to take action that can undermine our prosperity, stability and openness.
[Animation] A lot of icons of flags appear on the screen. These flags are all blue and without print and symbolize countries. The middle flag becomes black and larger. The rest of the flags disappear from the screen, after which the large black flag moves to the left of the screen. A red triangle with an exclamation mark appears next to the flag. To the right of the image three icons appear that symbolize prosperity, stability, and openness. Three orange arrows appear that run from the flag to these three icons. Three orange exclamation marks also appear next to the three icons. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] They do this in order to play allies against one another, expand their own power, or spread a particular ideology or religion.
[Animation] Six icons appear that symbolize alliances. These icons are placed in a circle. A black flag appears in the center. The icons become farther apart, which symbolizes playing allies against one another. The icons of the alliances disappear. The black flag then becomes larger, which symbolizes expanding one's own power. Next, three icons representing religion and three icons symbolizing ideology appear, placed in a circle around the flag. Orange exclamation points also appear with each icon. This symbolizes the spreading of a particular ideology or religion. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] We cherish and protect our open society…
[Animation] Two hands appear, holding a white square. An icon appears in that square that symbolizes open society. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] and this is why we are vigilant to risks to our national security.
[Animation] An icon of the Netherlands appears. This is surrounded by a white shield, to which orange arrows move but do not get through. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] Countries can use various means to achieve their goals…
[Animation] Eight different icons appear with orange exclamation marks. This symbolizes various means that countries can use.
[Voice-over] Like engaging in espionage, disrupting critical processes or carrying out cyberattacks.
[Animation] One of the eight icons that symbolizes espionage is getting bigger and then getting smaller again. The same is true for the icons that symbolize the disruption of critical processes and the execution of cyberattacks. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] They can also interfere with elections or buy up companies that make scarce products.
[Animation] An icon appears that symbolizes elections. There is a throbbing orange exclamation mark next to it. This icon moves to the left, after which an icon that symbolizes companies that make scarce products appears. This icon also has a beating orange exclamation mark. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] Locally, nationally, internationally, and in both the public and private domain: we can only counter state threats by working together and sharing information.
[Animation] Five icons appear that symbolize local, national, international, public and private. These icons move closer together in a transparent rectangle. An orange shield also appears with a check mark in the upper right corner. The whole disappears from view.
[Voice-over] If you like to know more about the Netherlands’ approach to state threats…
[Animation] The text "If you like to know more about the Netherlands’ approach to state threats" appears entirely on screen.
[Voice-over] Please visit www.nctv.nl.
[Animation] The text www.nctv.nl apears on screen.
[End]
The government is committed to a comprehensive, whole of society approach, with the involvement of all its partners in both the public and private sectors. In this way we develop a system and form a partnership that lends itself to a custom made and case-by-case approach.
The letter from the Minister of Justice and Security to the President of the House of Representatives of april 18ty 2019 contains a description of the way we cooperate with private and public partners. The focus now is on protecting democratic processes and institutions, countering undesirable foreign interference targeting diaspora communities and an approach to economic security.