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Dutch Justice and Security Minister David Van Weel stated that Türkiye can play a "vital role" in mediating the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
He expressed "full confidence" in Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, while warning that the conflict's economic consequences are already spreading well beyond the Middle East to Africa and Southeast Asia.
"I really hope that Türkiye can take on this vital role in the conflict that is now on the agenda," Van Weel told Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) during a visit to Ankara.
"I also have full confidence in Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; if anyone can make a difference, it is him," he noted.
Van Weel said he had witnessed "the enormous capacity of Turkish diplomacy" during his previous role as foreign minister.
"Not only in your region but beyond your region, the great role you take on, trying to bring parties together, mediating with deep knowledge of the sources and solutions of conflicts," he added.
Van Weel warned that the conflict's economic fallout was spreading rapidly, saying, "We have already started to see the impact of this conflict beyond the region."
"With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the damage to energy infrastructure in Gulf countries and Iran, we will first see economic distress outside the region," he noted.
"Unfortunately, we already see this happening on a large scale in the Global South, in Africa and in Southeast Asian countries," he said, adding that, "But it will not be long before we see these consequences in our own countries, in Türkiye as much as in the Netherlands."
The Dutch minister also warned of rising energy prices that would burden industry and the public, potentially causing "serious economic recession and inflation."
"Of course, what we need most right now is de-escalation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz," Van Weel said.
Van Weel described Ankara as a "very important partner" for the Netherlands and the European Union, noting the Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Türkiye and that economic cooperation has intensified in recent years.
"As Europe, we must be more independent in this unpredictable world. This means being independent in terms of defense. It also means being economically independent, and in this framework, Türkiye is a very important partner for us and for Europe," he said.
He said the Netherlands was closely following Türkiye's growing defense industry and highlighted the high education level in Türkiye, noting Dutch companies employ Turkish engineers "with bright futures."
Van Weel said his visit marked the first security dialogue between the two countries in five years, with senior representatives from prosecution, police, gendarmerie, judiciary and central administrations.
He highlighted cooperation on counterterrorism, noting the Netherlands lists the PKK and DHKP-C as terrorist organizations, adding that discussions also covered whether regional instability could create space for Daesh, particularly regarding the "radicalization" of youth through social media.
Van Weel recalled the joint "Tuna-Cloud" operation in 2025, conducted by the police forces of the Netherlands, Türkiye and other European countries, which dismantled an organized crime network.
He said cooperation on drug trafficking and money laundering involving some of the largest criminal networks in the Netherlands, which are also active in Türkiye, had been "wonderful."
Migration was also discussed, with Van Weel noting questions about whether refugees are beginning to return to Syria as the country stabilizes.
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