The port of Rotterdam, considered the largest in Europe, is making concrete preparations for a potential war between NATO and Russia. G.Business reports this citing Financial Times.
According to Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the port is currently reserving berths in case ships carrying military cargo arrive. At the same time, the administration is developing contingency plans to reroute commercial cargo to other ports if necessary.
Not every terminal is suitable for handling military shipments, Siemons explained. That’s why Rotterdam is actively coordinating with the neighboring port of Antwerp and plans to involve additional European ports to share the logistical burden.
“When it comes to strategic readiness, Rotterdam and Antwerp are cooperating more closely than ever,” Siemons noted.
The Port of Rotterdam stretches 42 kilometers along the Meuse River, processes around 436 million tonnes of cargoannually, and welcomes nearly 120,000 vessels per year. Back in 2003, during the Iraq War, the port handled a sudden increase in military shipments, even though it lacked specialized infrastructure at the time, according to the Financial Times.
These efforts are part of broader European measures to strengthen defense capabilities. The European Commission has presented an €800 billion rearmament plan, while the Netherlands and other NATO allies have committed to increasing defense spending up to 5% of GDP.
New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized that there is currently no immediate threat of a Russian attack on the Alliance. However, he did not rule out the possibility that Russia could strike NATO before 2030 — especially if a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine, which Rutte believes would increase the threat to the Alliance.
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