Europe should focus on own security as global threats mount, Dutch intelligence agency says

Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security as global threats intensify, according to the Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD.

The agency said in its 2025 public annual report, published on April 21, that rival great powers are putting Europe’s security under pressure. Dutch Defence Ministerial material said MIVD director Peter Reesink called for Europe to shoulder more of the burden.

The report says Chinese companies are supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, while Russia continues to pose threats through cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage and espionage.

MIVD also warned that in 2026 it expects more Chinese campaigns targeting vulnerabilities in routers, firewalls and VPNs.

The report’s release comes as European governments continue to confront a wider security environment shaped by the war in Ukraine, Chinese pressure and persistent hybrid threats.

What the report says

The Dutch intelligence service frames the threat landscape as worsening rather than stabilizing, with China and Russia both central to the pressure on Europe.

Why it matters

The warning adds to a broader debate in Europe over defense spending, resilience and whether the continent can reduce its dependence on allies outside the region.