The Financial Times reports that Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport, is preparing for potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for NATO supply ships and planning regular military drills. This comes amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia, with Western European leaders frequently accusing Moscow of aggressive intentions. The port, which handles over 460 million tons of cargo annually, is also coordinating with Antwerp to manage the potential influx of military cargo.
Russian officials have condemned the militarization push in Western European nations, urging them to support US-led peace initiatives for the Ukraine conflict instead of gearing up for war with Moscow. Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet that certain Western politicians are ‘demonizing’ Moscow and trying to portray it as ‘an enemy to rally populations tired of social and economic problems.’