Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 868 Royal Dutch Think Tank

“According to our intelligence, the Netherlands’ foreign policy is being decentralized and its cohesion is being weakened due to the gradual politicization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has had an impact on diplomacy.”

w At the Dutch Palace, William IV frowned and said dissatisfiedly to the people next to him.

These people are Cantur, director of the Dutch National Security Council and coordinator of Atlantic affairs, and the remaining three are Akci, coordinator of the Indian Ocean and Pacific, Samuel, coordinator of Europe and Africa, and Felix, coordinator of the Americas.

These three people do not belong to the three major parties in the Netherlands and have always been direct royal descendants of William IV.

"The ability of soldiers at the Dutch Ministry of Defense to carry out their duties is being undermined as civilian personnel at the Ministry of Defense are more interested in partisan politics than combat readiness, according to a new internal report that is due to be released soon," William IV's concern said.

The report of the Independent Panel on National Military Services and Defense is an urgent wake-up call, reminding us to pay attention to the spread of politicization in the formation of the Ministry of Defense and the erosion of Dutch defence.

The first-line statistics compiled in this report are staggering. "

After speaking, William IV handed the report directly to Cantur, the head of the think tank. The more the latter read, the worse his face became.

Afterwards, as the report was circulated among several people, everyone showed a solemn expression.

Cantur, director of the Dutch National Security Council and coordinator of Atlantic affairs, said at this time: "Last year, the American Army did not meet the recruitment standards, with a decrease of 25%. Major newspapers in the United States have predicted that the situation will be worse this year.

Recruitment numbers for the Navy and Army for the new fiscal year are both 50% lower than normal, and public confidence in the military is declining sharply. Even military families, where most recruits come from, are less likely to recommend that their children join the military. "

William IV asked Felix, Coordinator of the Americas: "What caused the decline in conscription in the Confederate States of America?"

Felix seemed to be well prepared and replied: "According to a poll we commissioned from Dutch-Americans in the United States in November last year, the most common explanations include that the military leadership of the Commonwealth of America is too politicized. Supporting the Republicans and Democrats split the military.

There is also the so-called woke culture that undermines the effectiveness of the American military.

Another survey found that 65% of active-duty soldiers and women in the United States are worried about politicization, including training in line with the 'woke' culture and lowering physical fitness standards. The military retention rate is also declining, for the same reason. "

William IV asked Cantur: "What about our Dutch army?"

Cantur hesitated for a moment, and then said frankly: "At various military levels in the Netherlands, the teams of the two prime ministers, former Prime Minister Tolbeck and current Prime Minister Linden, both focus on diversity, fairness and inclusion, and are working on To tarnish the Dutch soldier's spirit. Soldier's spirit is 'rooted in the values ​​of courage, honor and self-sacrifice' and is the basis for military morale, respect and success. To politicized initiatives such as 'diversity, equity and inclusion' It will create huge bureaucracies and distract them from practical work and attention. The military is not immune.

A previous Navy report for our members of the Dutch Parliament pointed out that today, 'non-combat courses consume Navy resources, clog complaint channels, create administrative headaches, and take up valuable Navy training time.'"

Finally, Cantur said: “At present, these two three parties have caused problems in both foreign affairs and national defense in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Defense of the cabinet government composed of Linden’s Christian Party and the Socialist Party sometimes seems to value the culture war more than losing. Combat training and extremely lethal weapons. Now the Linden government seems to have started using political parties to exert pressure on foreign countries and win over parallel policies. It seems to have forgotten that soldiers can sacrifice their lives for the country."

William IV: "So, in the Netherlands, the partisan politics of political parties is seriously corroding the combat effectiveness of the Dutch military?"

"Not only" Cantur said: "Not only the Ministry of National Defense, but also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there has been a practice of the three parties opening up exchanges with foreign countries. Just like this time in the Federal Republic of the United States, the Socialist Party is reaping the benefits of the United States. The relationship between the two parties has maintained communication. The Christian Party of the Netherlands has formed an alliance with the opposition Republican Party of the United States, while the opposition Liberal Party of the Netherlands has formed an alliance with the ruling Democratic Party of the United States.

This is very troublesome and helpless for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the core of the Netherlands’ foreign policy formulation.”

William IV: "Isn't the Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Beit?"

Cantur: "Yes, he is the second-in-command of the Socialist Party in the coalition government of the Christian Party and the Socialist Party."

William IV suddenly asked inexplicably: "A small party figure became the foreign minister, and the other two parties deliberately suppressed him? Akci, do you think that is right?"

Akqi is the coordinator of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific and an important member of the Royal Think Tank. Akqi replied:
"Your Majesty, I remember when you proposed that the major political parties in the Netherlands could form a coalition with each other. It seems that at that time, there were rumors that Your Majesty seemed to have delegated power to the three political parties. Therefore, from the establishment of the Socialist Party in 1870 to the Christian Party in 1878, Until the party jointly defeated the Liberal Party, Dutch society was full of support for His Majesty. Therefore, the diplomacy of the party formed at this time was 'in line' with the development direction that His Majesty had previously suspected."

Several other people couldn't help but nod.

William IV said noncommittally: "I heard that several of their political parties have also extended their hands to the two political powers in the north and south of France?"

Cantur: "Yes, the Christian Party supports contacts with the Second French Empire of Napoleon III, while the Liberal Party, like the German Empire, supports President Thiers's Southern Lyon regime, the Third French Republic."

William IV: "What about the Socialist Party?"

Cantur: "The Socialist Party still supports centrist policies as always and does not help the two parties. It seems that it wants to slowly accumulate strength and then compete with the two parties."

William IV asked the European and African Coordinator Samuel: "The current British-led Mediterranean exercises have entered the final stage, and Prime Minister Lyndon has also left Greece. After visiting Italy, he will arrive in Madrid, Spain to participate. The Nordic Alliance’s four-nation summit, what’s the overall news in Europe now?”

Samuel: "The diplomatic battle between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands on a global scale has entered the chalky stage. Southern Europe is already full of atmosphere, but Western Europe is still indifferent, especially Portugal and Germany, which seem to be too calm. But Italy is It is very special. He has been very enthusiastic towards our Prime Minister Lyndon recently, but he has also extended an invitation to visit Gladstone in the UK. It seems that he wants to make an advantage on both sides."

"This time I am following the consistent style of Italy," William IV (*^-^)ρ(*╯^ said shamelessly. He thought of the various behaviors of three-sex domestic slaves in Italy in his previous life, especially those who had many fights and pulled their crotches. It's so bad. It just feels funny.

(End of this chapter)