A large perimeter around the World Forum is fenced off. Only residents with a passport or proof of address are granted access. These restrictions also apply to parts of the diplomat district in the neighboring municipality of Wassenaar and the Statenkwartier.
Thousands of police officers, military police, and soldiers have been deployed, even supported by air defense installations in the dunes along the North Sea coast. A 20-kilometer stretch of highway between Schiphol and The Hague will be temporarily completely closed.
At the NATO annual meeting, the 32 participating countries must decide on a significant increase in national defense expenditures to counter the growing Russian military threat. Some countries are advocating for a rise to 5% of GDP. For the Netherlands, this would amount to doubling the current defense budget.
The discussions in The Hague are surrounded by geopolitical tensions. Ukrainian President Zelensky has not been invited to the summit itself, but he is invited for a reception by the Dutch king. Zelensky’s attendance is uncertain due to the situation in the Middle East.
U.S. President Trump has announced he will come to The Hague. Still, his presence is not fully certain, partly due to his possibly altered travel plans related to the conflict in the Middle East. European newspapers point out that Trump left the recent G7 summit earlier than planned and also avoided a meeting with Zelensky.
Multiple demonstrations have been announced in The Hague, including protests against Trump’s arrival. Authorities expect a variety of actions, from peace groups as well as pro-NATO demonstrators. Permit-required protests are strictly regulated.
The summit also has practical consequences for companies in the region. Royal FloraHolland warns of logistical disruptions around their world-famous daily flower auctions.