IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Operations
Release No: NR-110-18
April 11, 2018
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Dutch Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld at the Pentagon today.
Secretary Mattis highlighted the Netherland’s value to the United States and NATO as a steadfast ally, and their pledge to get to two percent of GDP defense spending. Minister Bijleveld discussed the recent publication of the Dutch Defense White Paper, and emphasized her government’s $1.5 billion increase in defense spending in 2018. Secretary Mattis commended the minister for her efforts to modernize her military and improve military readiness.
Secretary Mattis also thanked Minister Bijleveld for continued support to the D-ISIS Coalition and NATO missions, an enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group in Lithuania, and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.