This is a cry for attention! Citizens of the Netherlands, put everything aside for a moment and read what is written here. It is about the interests of all of you, of our country, of our future, of our prosperity. Shake hands and focus on The Hague. To the government and to the House of Representatives. On all those people who decide on our security. Because our country is in danger!

No matter how hard our military tries, they can no longer deliver to our country and to our allies what is needed. Already they have to mostly improvise. Turn a few broken-down F-16s into one good one. Not shooting at exercises too often, because they are running out of ammunition. Should things get serious, we are nowhere. Then we leave gaps with the allies. Then our country is not protected.

The Dutch armed forces have been cut to pieces.
Not just cut to pieces on what we have. Military innovations are moving fast, cyber, drones, all sorts of things. Our armed forces have no money to invest and exercise there too.

But also cut to pieces on:

  • spare parts
  • ammunition
  • combat clothing
  • exercises ( as a result of which deployability is also leaving more and more to be desired )
  • working conditions
  • career development

In the annual budgets on Budget Day, our welfare always came first. Whether it was healthcare, education, social security, incomes. It all took precedence. Of course, they are important goals. But without proper security, there is no prosperity at all, all our well-being disappears!

The world is becoming increasingly unsettled. Terror is on the rise. The tone between countries is more acrimonious. Large populations are adrift. Nationalism is growing stronger. Look at those wretched war zones. Is there prosperity there? Welfare? Good healthcare? Education? Freedom of speech? Even just subsistence security?

So why don't we pay for our insurance against war? Why do we neglect our security? Why do we discourage all those soldiers who still do their best every day to make something of it? Why can our defence minister, Ms Hennis-Plasschaert, warn that our country is no longer capable of defending itself and then we move on to the order of the day?

There are elections on 15 March. Show your concern for our security. Dedicate the new government to immediately and by all means restore security to our country. Give the new government the money to do so. Choose a party that is serious about that

We concerned citizens have created a Coalition for Defence to send a signal together. To create an agenda together. To offer the new government plans and resources for a strong, modern and excellently trained armed force that fits in with the times and is open to all possible innovations. We call ourselves Coalition for Defence, in English, so that everyone can see and hear that we are there.

We target all Dutch people, all people who live here. We focus especially on young people. They are building the world of tomorrow. They must not forget security. We focus on the elderly. They still have the stories of World War II close by. With them, we want to keep the war book closed. We focus on the working people. A strong economy requires strong security. We focus on the young families. Our children must have a bright and good future, without war, terror and misery.

We turn to politics. In The Hague, we need to change the agenda so that we start building security again instead of tearing it down. We turn to journalists. They write or tell us every day what matters. Tell how important our security is! Tell how we have let it deteriorate. Tell how we can and should rebuild it. We focus on industry. Join us in thinking how best to design our armed forces. Help build our armed forces. We focus on our military. Hang in there, help is on the way!

We focus on you. Support the armed forces. Support the Coalition for Defence in all its activities. Be seen, be heard and most importantly, be felt on 15 March. Let politicians feel that you mean business.

Let's work for a secure peace.
Ton Welter,Coalition for Defense