The heart of Europe is preparing for war: Rotterdam Becomes a Military Base

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which is also Europe’s largest trade gateway, has accelerated its preparations against a possible war scenario with Russia in line with increasing security concerns across the continent.

The port administration has started allocating special areas for military shipment vessels, making the necessary logistical plans, and increasing cooperation with neighboring ports.

These measures in Rotterdam are only part of the broader war preparations taking place across Europe.

In May, the Dutch Ministry of Defence, at NATO’s request, asked for areas in Rotterdam to be allocated for military ships. Several military vessels will stay at the port multiple times a year for weeks at a time, and ammunition transfers will be carried out among these ships. In addition, amphibious military exercises will be held in the region several times a year.

The Port of Rotterdam, established over an area of 42 kilometers, handles approximately 436 million tons of cargo annually. The port hosts 28,000 sea vessels and 91,000 inland waterway ships, maintaining uninterrupted connections with the interior regions of Europe.

Following EU sanctions, the port experienced an 8 percent decline in oil trade, particularly from Russian sources.

Antwerp, on the other hand, is Europe’s second-largest port with an annual cargo volume of 240 million tons. The Port of Antwerp currently carries out regular material shipments to U.S. bases in Europe. As a result, military cooperation and strategic reserve efforts between the two ports are intensifying.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned in a statement in June that Russia could attack a NATO member by 2030. This striking forecast is accelerating not only political and military but also logistical infrastructure reshaping across Europe.

Source: Hürriyet