Ruben Brekelmans

• Tilburg University
• University of London
• Harvard University

Ruben Brekelmans
Brekelmans in 2020
Minister of Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 July 2024
Website	rubenbrekelmans.nl

Ruben Pieter Brekelmans (born 18 July 1986) is a Dutch politician serving as the minister of defence in the Schoof cabinet since 2024. Brekelmans previously served as a member of the House of Representatives on behalf of the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). As a parliamentarian, he focused on foreign affairs and migration.

Early life and career

He was born in 1986 in Leidschendam, located close to The Hague, and he grew up in the North Brabant village Kaatsheuvel. ^{[2] [3]} Brekelmans became a member of Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (JOVD), the VVD's independent youth organization, at age seventeen. ^[4] He studied economics at Tilburg University, global politics at the London School of Economics, and obtained a Master of Public Administration degree in 2015 at the Harvard Kennedy School. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

After graduating from Harvard, Brekelmans took a job as strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group's Amsterdam office. ^{[5] [7]} He subsequently served as political assistant of State Secretary for Justice and Security Mark Harbers and kept working at the Ministry of Justice and Security as director of the program Adaptive Asylum System after Harbers's resignation in May 2019. ^{[8] [9] [1]} Brekelmans left the ministry in October 2020 to become program director Insight on Quality at the Ministry of Finance. ^{[3] [9] [1]} Next to his job, he was chair of the VVD's thematic network on international affairs between 2017 and 2021, and he was on the committee that wrote his party's election program for the 2019 European Parliament election. ^{[10] [11]}

House of Representatives

Brekelmans was the VVD's thirtieth candidate in the 2021 general election and was elected to the House of Representatives with 1,539 preference votes. ^[12] He was sworn in on 31 March and became his party's spokesperson for foreign policy, international cultural policy, and extensions of foreign missions. Migration was later added to his specialties. ^[13] During the Russian military build-up ahead of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Brekelmans advocated sending weapons to Ukraine, and he kept pleading for strong sanctions after the start of the invasion including closing the European Union's airspace for Russian airliners. ^{[14] [15]} Furthermore, Brekelmans was in support of quickly increasing spending on the Dutch military such that its budget would adhere to the NATO norm of 2% of GDP, and he wanted more security, defense, and migration cooperation in the European Union, although he opposed a European army. ^{[16] [17]}

In an opinion piece, he wrote that he wanted to deport asylum seekers whose application had been rejected to make room for "real refugees" from Ukraine. ^[18] He also raised the possibility of temporarily halting new asylum applications in light of capacity problems at asylum seekers' centers. ^[19] Shortly after the collapse of the fourth Rutte cabinet resulting from disagreements about immigration reform, Brekelmans argued in favor of cooperation with the Party for Freedom (PVV), including as a confidence partner for a minority government. The VVD and its leader Mark Rutte had dismissed the PVV for years due to a failed coalition in the early 2010s and its anti-immigration and anti-Islam stances. Brekelmans said that he kept his party's objections against the PVV but that their support might be necessary to solve immigration issues. He suggested the yearly influx of immigrants would have to be reduced by at least 50,000. ^{[20] [21]} The JOVD and former VVD politician Ed Nijpels criticized Brekelmans's comments, while VVD lead candidate Dilan Yeşilgöz weeks later also did not dismiss future cooperation with the PVV. ^[22] Following the 2023 general election, Brekelmans served as his party's spokesperson for foreign affairs (excluding Europe) and migration. ^[23]

Committee memberships

In the House, Brekelmans was on the following committees: ^[2]

• Committee for Defence
• Committee for European Affairs
• Committee for Foreign Affairs
• Committee for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
• Committee for Justice and Security
• Committee for Kingdom Relations
• Dutch parliamentary delegation to the NATO Assembly
• Dutch parliamentary delegation to the OSCE
• Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (substitute)
• Contact Group France
• Contact Group United Kingdom
• Contact Group United States (chair)

Minister of Defence

After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Brekelmans was sworn in as Minister of Defence on 2 July 2024, succeeding Kajsa Ollongren. ^{[24] [25]} In September 2024, Brekelmans and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman announced €2.4 billion in increased yearly funding for the Netherlands Armed Forces. Coalition parties agreed to increase defense spending to adhere to the NATO norm of 2% of GDP in response the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The additional funding would go towards attracting more personnel and the purchase of munitions, 50 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks, six F-35 fighter jets, two Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates, and several NH90 military helicopters. The Netherlands had been left without tanks since 2011 because of budget cuts. ^{[26] [27]} An additional €716 million in funding was added in November 2024 to meet the spending norm. ^[28]

Brekelmans told in a December 2024 interview that he no longer excluded the possibility of peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He proposed for Europe to take a leading role in such efforts, ahead of the second inauguration of US president Donald Trump. ^[29]

Honours and decorations

Foreign honours

•   Ukraine: Order of Merit, third class (2023). ^[30]

Personal life

Brekelmans lives in the North Brabant town Oisterwijk. ^[2] He has a girlfriend and a daughter, who was born on the day before his election to the House. ^[31]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Ruben Brekelmans

Year	Body	Party		Pos.	Votes	Result		Ref.
						Party seats	Individual
2021	House of Representatives		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	30	1,539	34	Won	[32]
2023	House of Representatives		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	6	13,902	24	Won	[33]

References

1. "R.P. (Ruben) Brekelmans MPA, MSc". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
2. "Ruben Brekelmans". Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal . 31 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
3. Tacken, Tom (24 February 2021). "Keus genoeg voor rechtse kiezers op 17 maart in Midden-Brabant, armoe bij links" [Enough choice for the right-wing voter on 17 March in Central Brabant, not so much on the left wing]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
4. "Kandidaat Tweede Kamer en Gestelse VVD in gesprek met bewoners Sint Michielsgestel" [MP candidate and Gestel VVD in discussion with inhabitants of Sint-Michielsgestel]. Weekblad de Brug (in Dutch). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
5. "Brekelmans, Ruben". HUTAC. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
6. Brekelemans, Ruben (2 March 2016). "Werkervaring als ingangseis voor masterstudies" [Job experience as an entry requirement for master's studies]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 15.
7. Brekelemans, Ruben (22 August 2015). "Er is meer nodig om wereldtoppers te trekken" [More is needed to attract world-class talent]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 6.
8. Hoedeman, Jan (31 March 2021). "Beroepspoliticus is in opmars: veel nieuwe VVD'ers in Kamer werkten nooit in bedrijfsleven" [Professional politicians are getting common: many new VVD members in the House never worked in the private sector]. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
9. Lamboo, Martin (6 October 2020). "De bal ligt nu bij de uitvoering" [The ball is now in the court of the execution]. JenV Magazine (in Dutch). Vol. 3, no. 11.
10. "Nevenactiviteiten van Ruben Brekelmans" [Other activities of Ruben Brekelmans]. Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
11. "Focus en lef: Voor een sterk Nederland in een veilig Europa" [Focus and courage: For a strong Netherlands in a powerful Europe](PDF). VVD (in Dutch). p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
12. "Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 17 maart 2021" [Results general election 17 March 2021](PDF). Kiesraad (in Dutch). 26 March 2021. p. 185. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
13. "Ruben Brekelmans". VVD (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 March 2022.
14. Keultjes, Hanneke (3 February 2022). "Kabinet: 'Niet uit te sluiten' dat Nederlandse militairen 'enige training' moeten geven in Oekraïne" [Cabinet: 'Can't rule out' that Dutch soldiers would have to provide 'some training' in Ukraine]. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 March 2022.
15. De Jong, Yteke; Muller, Mike (26 February 2022). "Kamerleden willen EU-luchtruim op slot voor Russen" [House members want to close EU airspace for Russians]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch).
16. "VVD wil nog deze kabinetsperiode naar NAVO-norm van 2 procent" [VVD wants to reach NATO norm of 2 percent during this cabinet period already]. Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). ANP Producties. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
17. Winterman, Peter (20 March 2022). "Europa gaat meer militair samenwerken: 'Samen optreden, vechten en materieel inkopen'" [Europe will cooperate more militarily: 'Act, fight, and purchase material jointly']. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 May 2022.
18. Brekelmans, Ruben (7 March 2022). "Ingezonden opinie: Laten we ruimte maken voor échte vluchtelingen" [Submitted opinion piece: Let us make room for real refugees]. EW . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
19. "VVD wil dat kabinet kijkt of een tijdelijke asielstop mogelijk is" [VVD wants cabinet to look at possibility of temporary asylum halt]. Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
20. Rutten, Rik (21 July 2023). "VVD zoekt toenadering tot PVV: samenwerken niet uitgesloten" [VVD seeks rapprochement to PVV: Not excluded from cooperation]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
21. Vrijsen, Eric (21 July 2023). "Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) over asiel: 'Er moet iets stevigs gebeuren'" [Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) about refugees: 'Something drastic has to happen']. EW (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
22. Klaassen, Niels. "Nieuwe VVD-leider zet de deur voor PVV op een kier: 'Eerst is de kiezer aan zet'" [New VVD leader opens door a bit for the PVV: 'The voters can choose first']. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
23. "Portefeuilleverdeling" [Portfolio allocation]. People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
24. "Ruben Brekelmans pleitbezorger van kleinere asielinstroom" [Ruben Brekelmans advocate of reduced influx of asylum seekers]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
25. "Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd" [Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
26. "Defensienota: leger redt het niet met alleen beroepsmilitairen en reservisten" [Defense memo: Army needs more than just professional soldiers and reservists]. NOS (in Dutch). 5 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
27. Derix, Steven (5 September 2024). "Tanks, vliegtuigen en fregatten zijn niet genoeg: defensie heeft de samenleving nodig" [Tanks, aircraft, and frigates are not enough: Defense needs society]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
28. Schmidt, Christoph (11 November 2024). "Defensie investeert extra in eigen luchtafweer en grensbewaking" [Defense invests additional funds in own air defense and border protection]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
29. Brekelmans, Ruben (15 December 2024). "Vredesoverleg Oekraïne niet langer taboe in Den Haag" [Ukrainian peace talks no longer a taboo in The Hague]. Trouw (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Christoph Schmidt. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
30. "Указ Президента України від 4 вересня 2023 року № 556/2023 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України»". president.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
31. Gotink, Bart (18 March 2021). "Oisterwijker Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) heeft een zetel en een baby" [Oisterwijk resident Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) has a seat and a baby]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
32. "Proces-verbaal verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer 2021" [Report of the election results House of Representatives 2021](PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 29 March 2021. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
33. "Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023" [Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023](PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 4 December 2023. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

External links

• Personal website (in Dutch)

Political offices
Preceded by Kajsa Ollongren	Minister of Defence 2024–present	Incumbent