Netherlands now on an unstoppable path towards denuclearization
Motion adopted by the Dutch Parliament to end the nuclear task of the Netherlands by 2023.
A motion proposed by member of parliament Van Dijk (SP) was adopted in which the Parliament agreed that the successor to the F-16 fighter jet may not have a nuclear task.
Krista van Velzen, nuclear disarmament campaigner at IKV Pax Christi said: “Now the Joint Strike Fighter may not be used to carry and deploy nuclear weapons. This means that within the next 10 years, when the last F-16 has been replaced, the Netherlands will have no alternative to bid farewell to the American weapons of mass destruction now stationed at Volkel”. Jan Gruiters, general director at IKV Pax Christi said “This is an historical development of which the Netherlands can be proud. Of course, Foreign Minister Timmermans doesn’t have to wait another decade to denuclearize the Netherlands. He can decide now to negotiate the return of these nuclear weapons directly with the US”.
In December 2012, the Parliament passed a motion rejecting the modernisation of the B61 bombs. Van Velzen said “No nuclear weapons and no planes to carry them means a final farewell to the Netherlands nuclear task in NATO.”
In February 2014, more than 100 countries are expected to meet in Mexico to continue discussions about the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. The Netherlands is expected to participate as well. IKV Pax Christi hopes that the resolution adopted today also provides space for the Dutch government to advocate for negotiations on an international treaty banning nuclear weapons and to participate constructively in that process.
