NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited The Hague on Thursday and held talks with senior members of the Dutch government and lawmakers, the western military alliance said in a statement.
Rasmussen discussed the importance of this year's Summit in Wales to the Alliance's future and the value of defense during his talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, parliamentarians and other senior officials, the alliance said.
Stressing that the summit will focus on Afghanistan, improving capabilities, and broadening partnerships, he noted: "It will show that our bond is strong, and that our Alliance continues to adapt, reform and look outwards to stay fit for the future."
The NATO Secretary General met with the Prime Minister as well as Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert to discuss NATO's security agenda and preparations for Wales.
During the discussions, Rasmussen thanked the Dutch government for its continuing support to NATO missions.
Dutch forces currently participate in NATO's mission in Afghanistan, and provide Patriot batteries to protect Turkey. They are also contributing to NATO's missile defense system by upgrading air defense frigates. The Netherlands also participates in 17 multinational Smart Defense projects to improve capabilities.
Rasmussen also had a joint meeting with the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs, defense and development cooperation from the Dutch House of Representatives and the Senate. He also had an audience with King Willem-Alexander.
The NATO Chief also addressed students at the University of Leiden's campus in The Hague on why defense matters. He stressed the value of defense as a tool for international influence and cooperation should not be overlooked, indicating investments in defense benefit not only individual nations but also NATO.
The NATO Secretary General said defense also leads to benefits in innovation and technology and creates jobs. He acknowledged that many Allies, including the Netherlands, have had to cut defense budgets, which has made value for money even more important. He commended the Netherlands for embracing multinational cooperation on defense and said he was confident that Dutch decision makers understand how much defense matters to peace and prosperity.
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