Dutch Queen Maxima joins the army as a member of the army, as “security will no longer be taken for granted”

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has joined her country’s army as a reserve, expressing concern for national security.

Maxima, 54, “has chosen to register now because our security will no longer be taken for granted,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the Dutch royal family, “and she, like many others, wants to contribute to that security.”

After training with the Royal Netherlands Army, the Argentine-born Dutch princess will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and “like other guards, she will deploy where needed,” the royal family said in a statement.

Pictures released by the family show the queen taking part in “Mental Skills” training at the Dutch Royal Military Academy in Breda, in the south of the country, taking part in various exercises. In one, he is seen aiming a gun.

The accompanying video set to high-energy rock dance music shows Maxima smiling in green army fatigues before jumping into a pool, then rock climbing with a hat.

Queen Maxima is not the first member of a European royal family to serve in their country’s military. His daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia recently completed her military training and was promoted to the rank of corporal.

Last year, Norwegian princess Ingrid Alexandria completed 15 months working as a gunner in an engineering team. And Princess Leonor of Spain is in the final stages of three years of training throughout the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Many members of the British royal family, living and dead, have also served in the armed forces – incl King Charles IIhis son Prince William and his young son Prince Harrywho served two tours in Afghanistan.

A European army?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the unexpected emergence of the US as a staunch NATO ally, have shaken Europe’s sense of security in recent years.

President Trump has pushed European countries to dramatically increase their domestic defense spending and reduce what he sees as their reliance on US forces in NATO. He also tried to wrestle Greenland away from Denmark, causing a rift in the alliance, and threatened his allies with taxes. before retreating.

In January, European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the EU should consider having a joint force of 100,000 soldiers, separate from NATO.

“We need to start investing our money in such a way that we will be able to fight like Europe, not just collect the ‘bonsai armies’ of 27 countries,” he said.

Recruiting across Europe

“We refuse to remain dependent on others to protect us,” the newly formed coalition government in the Netherlands said last week, adding that it would require young people to complete mandatory research on military service.

“If this does not produce sufficient results,” the government said, “we will consider other measures, such as the return of mandatory elections.”

Nine European NATO member states still have some form of conscription: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

Croatia plans to reinstate compulsory military service this year, forcing men between the ages of 19 and 29 to undergo two months of basic training, and several other countries – including France and Germany – have recently introduced programs to encourage young people to serve.