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As NATO braces for the possibility of a large-scale war with Russia within the next five years, Europe’s largest port is transforming itself into a strategic military logistics hub. The Port of Rotterdam is reserving space for NATO ships and repurposing part of its container terminal to handle ammunition and other military cargo, marking the first time such infrastructure has been designated exclusively for defense use.
The move follows a formal request from NATO and comes amid mounting concern over Russia’s military resurgence and its increased activity in European waters. Coordination is underway with the nearby Port of Antwerp in Belgium, which could share the load if the volume of shipments surges. "We see each other less and less as competitors," said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Siemons noted that not all terminals are equipped to handle military-grade cargo, making logistical coordination essential, particularly for shipments from the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
The Dutch Defense Ministry confirmed in May that it will allocate port space for NATO supplies, part of a broader European effort to reduce reliance on U.S. logistics support. The port also plays a key role in oil storage, and Siemons has urged European nations to stockpile essential raw materials like copper, lithium, and graphite, ahead of a new EU strategy to build reserves of critical goods.
This logistical push comes as Russia dramatically increases its defense spending. Moscow's military budget jumped 42% in 2024 to $462 billion, more than all European NATO members combined, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that a Chinese move on Taiwan could lead Beijing to encourage Russia to strike NATO territory, underscoring the urgency of European readiness.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate in the Baltic and North Seas. Russia has begun using navy escorts for sanctioned oil tankers through the English Channel and the Gulf of Finland, while Denmark has deployed maritime drones to monitor underwater infrastructure. France has dispatched its intelligence vessel Dupuy de Lôme to intercept Russian signals in the region.
The increased militarization of Europe's ports comes amid a backdrop of ongoing logistics disruptions caused by policy uncertainty and environmental factors. Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg remain among the most congested ports on the continent, with bottlenecks expected to persist for months.
With information from The Kyiv Independent and Financial Times.
