Geoffrey van Leeuwen, interim Minister for Foreign Trade, takes the reins

They look like code names from a Bond film, but they are used daily in the department at Rijnstraat 8 in The Hague. ‘M’ stands for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the most important political official in the ministry; ‘R’ stands for the number two, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

The appointment of top civil servant Geoffrey van Leeuwen as interim Minister for Foreign Trade appears to have turned that division of roles upside down. Last Wednesday, Van Leeuwen visited Rafah, on the border between Egypt and Gaza, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA). Van Leeuwen announced via the ANP that the Netherlands is releasing another 25 million euros for humanitarian aid for the Palestinian population. Then it was ‘R’ (and not ‘M’) who traveled to Israel for discussions about what should happen after the war.

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Van Leeuwen (53) replaces Liesje Schreinemacher (VVD), who is on maternity leave. If National Security Advisor and advisor on foreign and security policy, he was Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s right-hand man for many years. Now the former top civil servant plays a leading role in files that should normally be handled by ‘M’: Minister Bruins Slot.

Last weekend Van Leeuwen was in Ukraine. He spoke with the Minister for Economic Development Yulia Svydyrenko, visited a power plant and a demining program – activities that in themselves fit well with his profile as Minister of Development Cooperation. Van Leeuwen also briefly returned to his old security role: “During my visit to Kyiv, I emphasized the vital importance for Ukraine to hold out against Russian aggression,” the new minister wrote on X.

Growing amazement

Such tweets raise the eyebrows of civil servants. The surprise grew after ‘R”s next journey became known. On Tuesday, Van Leeuwen flew to Egypt together with Minister Bruins Slot and Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren (D66) to speak with UN representatives about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where the need among the population is increasing every day.

After the visit to the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday, Bruins Slot flew to Jordan to meet her colleague Ayman Al Safadi. Van Leeuwen – nominal number two at BZ – traveled on to Israel and the Palestinian West Bank. In Tel Aviv, Van Leeuwen would consult with Israeli General Ghassan Alian, the military coordinator for the Palestinian territories, who last October called the Palestinians “human beasts” and declared a total blockade of Gaza. He was then scheduled to meet with Israel’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi in Jerusalem. This would not only discuss humanitarian aid, but also what should happen to Gaza once Hamas is defeated. The United States wants the Palestinian Authority (expelled by Hamas in 2007) to take over the administration again, and the Netherlands wants to assist in this.

His tweets about Ukraine raise the eyebrows of diplomats

These are quite unusual files for a Minister for Foreign Trade, but it is certain that Van Leeuwen is knowledgeable. In a long career at the Foreign Office, he headed the police training mission in Kunduz, Afghanistan, was ambassador to Kabul and was director of the North Africa and Middle East Directorate (DAM). In the latter position he made a name for himself as a warm advocate of Israel – which was sometimes at odds with the official Dutch line, which requires investments in relations with both Tel Aviv and the Palestinian Authority.

When he left for General Affairs in 2020, it was joked in video speeches (because of corona people were at home) that he had done “everything” he could to strengthen relations with Tel Aviv. Van Leeuwen, who is known as a ‘hawk’, has continued this line, critics say, as Rutte’s council advisor.

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American line

After the Hamas attacks on October 7 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza, General Affairs took over the coordination of Dutch Israel policy, sources say. In recent weeks, Rutte has already been to Israel twice, and the number of telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu can no longer be counted on one hand.

For the outgoing Prime Minister, who has indicated that he would like to become the new Secretary General of NATO, it is an opportunity to further strengthen his international profile. The Netherlands may under no circumstances deviate from the American line. While other European countries such as France and Belgium voted in favor of UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Netherlands has so far abstained.

In the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Rutte persistently maintains that it cannot be established that Israel violates the humanitarian laws of war in its bombing of Gaza, which has already killed around 20,000 Palestinians.

Minister Bruins Slot would convey this position to her Jordanian colleague in Amman. Van Leeuwen says that his discussions in Israel are “specifically aimed” at humanitarian aid for Gaza – which falls under his responsibility. “I will also argue for a temporary humanitarian ceasefire,” the minister said. “And of course I let my conversation partners update me on the current security in the country.”

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