OREANDA-NEWS  The Netherlands will have to get used to the fact that they will have to pay a high price for their security, said Jeffrey van Leeuwen, the country's outgoing Minister for Foreign Trade. His speech was published on the government's website.

He called on Amsterdam and Europe to take more decisive action in the context of the geopolitical confrontation. According to the politician, the time when the West could count on Washington in security matters has passed.

"We will have to get used to the price of security, even if it is measured by civilian casualties or body bags," he added. He attributed Russia, China and Iran to the geopolitical opponents of the West. "We need rigidity — otherwise it will be difficult for us to protect our interests in the world," he stressed.

In March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a bilateral security agreement between the two countries.