Press statement Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo

Speech | 03-06-2019 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

First of all it is a great pleasure to welcome Secretary Pompeo here in the Netherlands. In the coming days the Netherlands together with the US will proudly host the Global Entrepreneur Summit. This afternoon Mike and I concentrated on the close operation between our countries in many other areas. The relationship between the United States and the Netherlands is a special one. It is the longest unbroken peaceful relationship between the United States and any foreign country.

We are some of the most innovative and entrepreneurial countries in the world.  We believe in entrepreneurship. It has brought prosperity and progress to both our countries and beyond. The Netherlands is proud to be a fixture in the top five of foreign investors in the United States and vice versa, the US is our largest investor. We also both believe in a safer and more stable world. We are strong partners in the international arena. Whether on our shared concern about the unrest in Venezuela, our joint commitment to address malign cyber activities and our strong commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance. 

The foundation of our close security cooperation dates back almost 75 years with the contribution of American troops and other allied forces to the liberation of the Netherlands. Nearly 10,000 US soldiers who lost their lives in WWII are honored at US cemetery in Margraten, in the south of the Netherlands. It was an honor to be at the yearly memorial ceremony with Ambassador Hoekstra a week ago.

We will never forget the brave American men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Freedom is not free and it should never be taken for granted.