Speech by Jochen M. Richter, Chairman Diplomatic Council Global Security Forum, on the occasion of the opening of the Netherlands Mission in spring 2025

Where is this world going? And more particular, what does this mean for Europe and what does this mean for European security? …

Now, if we think about the global order, then the first question is, why do we have to talk about security? Now, the first reason is because this very city where we are is the birth place of Erasmus of Rotterdam. The famous thinker, the great humanist who kicked off a process that was later development, enlightenment, brought everything we hold dear. Hang [Nguyen] was referring to many of these elements, separations of powers, the independence of law, and the respect for the law.

Nobody stands over the law. But many of these things we know are nowadays questioned, and not only in the very country that was mentioned several times this evening, also in other countries.

Now, do we see a revolution from the top, as some are saying? Quite honestly, ladies and gentlemen, let's lean back and let this sort out the American people. This is not our task. But there is, of course, the other reason, and that is general geopolitics. And in fairness, a second and last sentence in relation to the United States. I think we hear too often these days the fantastic story, "Until yesterday, the United States was always on our side and was in tune with us." I may say all nonsense.

Those who still remember the time of famous foreign advisor Henry Kissinger, we had between the 1970s until 1982 a profound difference of opinions between America and Europe. And only with the NATO double decision, we came to terms again. So let's not forget that this is a story that goes way back of difference of opinions.

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