Netherlands uses Kiev battlefield data to train own troops — Defense Ministry

THE HAGUE, October 12. /TASS/. The Dutch armed forces is using Ukraine's experience in the conflict with Russia to train its own military personnel, said Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius.

"Our armed forces are really training as we speak every day with the knowledge the Ukrainians have," she told the Warsaw Security Forum. According to Yesilgoz-Zegerius, while initially partner countries were "trying to help" Ukraine, now they themselves are learning from Kiev and using its experience to develop their own armies.

Earlier in October, the Dutch Defense Ministry said that the country receives data from Ukraine on the operational use of military systems, which can be used to develop, train and improve artificial intelligence (AI) models. It was noted that agreements on intellectual property rights to AI models, algorithms and other technologies created or improved using Ukrainian operational data remain a subject of discussion. Kiev offers to transfer part of the data to Dutch companies and research organizations.

The comments from Yesilgoz-Zegerius come as the kingdom builds up a large-scale military potential. According to the draft budget presented by the government on September 15, 28.9 billion euros are to be allocated to defense needs in 2027. By 2030, the Defense Ministry expects to increase the number of its personnel -- including military personnel, reservists and civilian staff -- to more than 100,000. The agency attributes the need to build up military potential, in particular, by claiming "threats" from Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly denied claims about its desire to attack NATO countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin described such statements by Western politicians as an attempt to intimidate their population and justify an increase in military spending. Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the alliance is following the path of "reckless militarization," and the image of Russia as a threat is being used to justify the decision to increase the defense spending of the bloc’s member states to 5% of GDP.