Contribution of New Communist Party of the Netherlands

Dear comrades,

The outbreak of imperialist war in Ukraine is the result of escalating antagonisms between different imperialist powers. Two peoples who once lived together peacefully under Soviet socialism are now facing each other in a bloody war. From both sides, both on the part of the reactionary Ukrainian government and its NATO allies, and on the part of the capitalist Russian Federation, false pretexts are put forward to justify the imperialist war. But essentially, the war on both sides is an imperialist war waged for the interests of the monopolies.

Our parties have taken the position that in this imperialist war, we should not stand behind the Russian bourgeoisie which is using false “anti-fascism” and anti-NATO sentiments as a pretext for its own ends. We have seen other parties in our various frameworks capitulate to the idea that we must support Russia, because they are the “lesser evil”, because they are threatened by NATO-imperialism and Ukrainian fascism, because it comes to the aid of the oppressed peoples of Donbass. Consequently, the war in Ukraine has also caused a major rift in the international communist movement.

Comrades, our movement has been in a crisis for the last few decades. The weakness of the communist movement has led some to believe that it is better to rely on “stronger” allies such as the Russian bourgeoisie, to fight for a “multipolar world” as a necessary stepping stone towards socialism. How fatal this point of view is can be seen by several parties adopting strategies that promote working together with reactionary, even far-right groups.

The conclusions of the communists vis-à-vis this war must be very clear: we oppose NATO-US-EU imperialism and the reactionary Ukrainian government, which espouses vile anticommunism and promotes fascist groups. We oppose also the Russian bourgeoisie, which promotes irredentism and reactionary views and sends thousands to their deaths in this invasion.

We must also be clear why we have these conclusions. The conclusions of the communists must be based on the interest of the working class, in its fight against the capitalist class.

 

Dutch capital is actively involved in these international contradictions. It participates in imperialist alliances such as the EU and NATO, within which the Dutch bourgeoisie tries to strengthen its position and promote its interests. The Netherlands is increasingly involved in military interventions, mostly in the framework of NATO or the EU. Spending on “Defense” has increased to 15,2 billion euros, an increase of 2,4 billion euros.[1]The aim is to secure the interests of Dutch big business abroad and expand its influence. In doing so, the Netherlands particularly interferes in the Caribbean, where Dutch colonies still exist as remnants of the colonial system. But, the Dutch bourgeoisie has set its eyes on Ukraine now as well, as part of their alignment with NATO and EU interests.

The role of the Dutch bourgeoisie in the imperialist conflict in Ukraine

The Dutch bourgeoisie has a great stake in defending the reactionary Ukrainian government and the interests of the Euroatlantic imperialist bloc to which it belongs and within which it tries to promote its own strategic goals. To this end it also commits extensive financial resources. Let us look at what the Dutch bourgeois state tells us proudly what it is doing to “help” Ukraine:

In 2023, the Dutch bourgeoisie committed €200 million guarantee to the EU budget for Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA). In addition, Ukraine is set to receive a €200 million loan through the International Monetary Fund, a €100 million guarantee through the World Bank, and €27.5 million through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The Dutch bourgeoisiecontributed €90 million via the World Bank's Ukraine Relief Trust Fund, €72 million via the EBRD for the Ukrainian energy distributor Ukrenergo, and €18 million for the supply of electricity grid components.

A significant portion of the so-called “aid to Ukraine”, amounting to €65 million, is allocated for the Dutch and Ukrainian business community. This includes €50 million for infrastructure rehabilitation and €15 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Further reconstruction efforts involve a €1 million contribution via the Association of Dutch Municipalities for plans in Cherson, Odessa, and Mykolajiv.On the military front, crucially, a monumental €1.6 billion is designated for direct supplies, purchase of military goods, and contributions to the International Fund for Ukraine and NATO Trust Fund.[2]

In 2024, the total amount of financial support will reach €2 billion, in line with the promises to NATO. The state will also make €102 million available for “humanitarian support”, recovery and reconstruction for the first four months of 2024. €89 million will also be released for accountability, including for costs related to the future accommodation of a special “Ukraine tribunal”.

The economic and political support of the Dutch bourgeois state is not done out of “charity” for the Ukrainian people, who became a victim of the imperialist blocs and their reactionary government. The interest of the Dutch monopolies in particular in “rebuilding” Ukraine lies in the enormous profitability of this new market for construction. Undoubtedly, Dutch companies see Ukraine as an object for profitable capital export. The Dutch bourgeois state, as the “universal capitalist” supports them wholeheartedly in this effort.

Dutch companies can apply for a grant if they want to do a project together with a Ukrainian organisation. In the so-called Partnership Fund, there is €25 million for grants of five hundred thousand to five million euros for Dutch companies and “civil society organisations” that want to cooperate in recovery and reconstruction. In addition, €60 million of export credit (export credit insurance covers the risk of a buyer not paying, ed.) is available.

Ukraine's economy is relatively small but has a highly educated population. The country has a lot of agricultural land and 45 million inhabitants. As a result, there are many opportunities for Dutch companies, especially in the agricultural sector and logistics (transport, equipment),but also in port development. About 250 Dutch companies are currently active in Ukraine.

The bulk of the cooperation agreement consists of agreements that are meant to smoothen trade with the imperialist EU, with the creation of a free trade zone. Trade barriers will disappear as Ukraine adapts to European rules and lowers import tariffs, for example. This will save European companies around €390 million a year. Dutch companies will get better access to a large market of 45 million consumers.The Netherlands exported about €974 million to Ukraine in 2018. In 2014, the figure was about €775 million. Besides, Ukraine is one of the most fertile countries in the world, the “granary of Europe”. The Dutch bourgeoisie in the agricultural sector hence also seeks to profit from “easier” trade with Ukraine.[3]

It is as Lenin says in his book “Imperialism”: “As long as capitalism remains what it is, surplus capital will be utilised not for the purpose of raising the standard of living of the masses in a given country, for this would mean a decline in profits for the capitalists, but for the purpose of increasing profits by exporting capital abroad to the backward countries.”[4]

On the military front, as mentioned, the Dutch ministry of Defence says:

“Direct delivery: equipment worth €1.10 billion was delivered to Ukraine from its own military stocks. This is the amount the equipment was worth at the time of delivery (the book value). Since it also costs money to replenish or replace the delivered goods, the total cost for the Netherlands comes to €1.49 billion.

Commercial delivery: the Netherlands also bought military goods for Ukraine,at a cost of €934 million.

International Fund for Ukraine: The Netherlands paid €100 million into the International Fund for Ukraine. Military equipment for Ukraine provided directly by industry is paid from the fund.

NATO Trust Fund: the Netherlands contributes €100 million to the NATO Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package (UCAP). This pays for goods and provisions such as fuel, medical supplies, winter equipment and jammers to disrupt drones. This fund is for so-called non-lethal support, i.e. no weapons or weapons systems.”[5]

Military goods amount to:

“T-72 tanks (60 pieces), YPR armoured tracked vehicles including for salvage and lessons (207 pieces), Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and Viking tracked vehicles. Leopard 1 tanks jointly with Denmark and Germany (at least 100 pieces), Leopard 2A4 tanks jointly with Denmark (14 pieces), PzH2000 armoured howitzers (8 pieces) and 120mm mortars. Air defence systems such as Patriot launchers (2 pieces), Patriot air defence missiles, MR-2 mobile anti-aircraft guns (100 pieces), Bofors 40L70 40mm anti-aircraft guns (20 pieces), VERA-NG systems (4 pieces), missiles and missile systems for air defence and drone control, such as the Stinger. And F-16 fighter aircrafts.”[6]

Perhaps the information above speaks for itself. But it is clear that the Dutch bourgeoisie is dragging the Dutch people, the Dutch working class, along with it in its dangerous EU-NATO plans in order to consolidate their profits. To this end, it is willing to sacrifice everything, including the people’s safety and livelihoods. Only the NCPN opposes their plans, without any reformist illusions or illusions pertaining to capitalist Russia in this bloody imperialist conflict.

 

 

[1]https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/09/20/prinsjesdag-2022-extra-investeringen-in-defensie

[2]https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/oorlog-in-oekraine/nederlandse-hulp-voor-oekraine#anker-1-nederlandse-steun-aan-oekraine-in-2023

[3] For the official narrative of the Dutch bourgeois state concerning the “benefits” of the Assocation Agreement of the EU with Ukraine: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/associatieakkoord-oekraine/voordelen-associatieakkoord-oekraine-voor-nederland

[4] V.I. Lenin, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, chapter 4

[5]https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/oostflank-navo-gebied/militaire-steun-aan-oekraine

[6]https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/oostflank-navo-gebied/militaire-steun-aan-oekraine