By Liu Quanling and Tang Wei
Dutch personnel unload armored vehicles on October 30, 2024.
The US shipped hundreds of armored vehicles to the Dutch ports of Vlissingen and Eemshaven by sea on October 30, according to a report by the website of Army Technology in early November. These vehicles and related parts were then put in over 2,000 containers and transported to countries including Poland via a newly established military transport corridor that spans across Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. This is the first large-scale use of the military transport corridor.
In late January this year, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland signed a statement of intent to establish a corridor that would facilitate military transportation, allowing for rapid reinforcement and resupply of NATO's eastern flank. Specifically, the three countries aim to address infrastructure issues, such as roads and bridges, simplify cross-border transport of military equipment and other hazardous materials, and secure solutions that prioritize military rail transport over civilian traffic. NATO officials pointed out that establishing a military transport corridor that stretches across Western Europe and Central Europe between NATO member states is a very important logistical plan.
The Netherlands is the actual gateway connecting Europe with the rest of the world given its superior geographical location and well-developed port network. The above-mentioned Dutch ports are important nodes of this military transport corridor and can coordinate supply lines to the eastern flank for NATO's partners. It is reported that the Netherlands has made the promise to assist the US military in carrying out this military mobility mission. It is worth noting that this is the first time that foreign military supplies have arrived at the Port of Eemshaven in the Netherlands on a large scale.
According to a press release by the Netherlands, this shipment of armored vehicles will take approximately three weeks from October 30 to November 20. Some of these vehicles will be transported from Eemshaven to Germany escorted by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. Further details about the mission and how Polish forces will use these vehicles have not been disclosed by foreign media.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO has continuously increased its military deployment in Eastern Europe and has repeatedly conducted exercises on how to rapidly deliver reinforcements to the eastern flank of the alliance when threats occur.
It is reported that the deployment of hundreds of armored vehicles to Poland underscores Poland's importance in NATO's defense strategy for its eastern flank. In recent years, Poland has become a major hub for NATO's weapons supply to Ukraine, with its geopolitical security value and military significance steadily rising. The US-led NATO has promoted relevant military deployments on the excuse of geopolitical crisis and has continuously strengthened its military presence in Poland, aiming to control and utilize Poland through military and security means and further control European security.
This military action also reflects that Poland is rapidly improving its military strength and making medium- and long-term preparations for the US' strategic pivot toward the Asia-Pacific region. To this end, Poland is seeking permission from the US to manufacture more equipment locally and strengthen NATO's military infrastructure, in a bid to cope with possible future conflicts.
