FT: Europe’s biggest port readies for potential war with Russia

Port of Rotterdam
Photo: Reuters

Europe’s largest port is gearing up for a potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for ships carrying military supplies and planning where to divert cargo if war breaks out, ‘Financial Times’ writes.

Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said it was coordinating with neighbour Antwerp on how to manage if British, US and Canadian vehicles and supplies arrived.

“Not every terminal is fit for handling military cargo,” he told the Financial Times in an interview. “If large volumes of military goods would have to be shipped, we’d look to Antwerp or other ports to take over some capacity and the other way around. We see each other less and less as competitors. And, of course, we compete where we have to, but we work together where we can.”

Rotterdam’s measures are part of a wave of war preparations across the continent. The EU is drawing up a rearmament plan of up to €800bn as it tries to become more self-sufficient in defence in response to demands from US President Donald Trump, and to deter Russian aggression.

The Netherlands, along with its NATO allies, has pledged to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP. In May, the Dutch defence ministry announced that Rotterdam would have to provide space for handling multiple ships carrying military cargo at the request of NATO.

Siemons said one or more ships would be docked at the quay for several weeks, four or five times a year, though the location might change. Rotterdam’s container terminal is the only place where the port could safely transfer ammunition from one ship to another.

Rotterdam sprawls for 42km along the river Meuse in the Netherlands. It handles about 436mn tonnes of freight annually, receiving 28,000 vessels by sea and 91,000 vessels by river from Germany and Europe’s hinterland.

The port lost about 8 per cent of its trade, principally oil, after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia.

Antwerp handles 240mn tonnes of freight annually, making it the second-biggest port in the EU.

Siemons said the two ports were also working together to improve Europe’s self-sufficiency. “Our teams are working more and more closely together on a number of topics, including on resilience.”

The EU is due to unveil a “stockpiling strategy” that will cover medical supplies, critical raw materials, energy equipment, shelter, and potentially food and water.

…“In the event of a war with Russia,” as the British press writes, the port of Rotterdam becomes a priority target for Russian missiles, as does the city of London, from which provocative calls for war are constantly heard. It is time for the Europeans to ask – do they want these calls come true? Russia has many times said it has no plans to war with NATO, maybe they in Brussels want it?

Pic.: ‘The Daily Mail’