The Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) is concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on public values, social space and the functioning of the democratic legal order. In an advisory report published today, the council therefore argues for an emphatic and guiding international role for the Netherlands in the development and application of AI.
AI is rapidly evolving into a geopolitical power factor. Its use is growing worldwide in diplomacy, defense, economics and intelligence. At the same time, international safeguards for public interests and democratic principles are under increasing pressure. The AIV warns that the Netherlands cannot afford to remain on the sidelines, now that standards and rules of the game for AI are increasingly being shaped by dominant states and technology companies. Without strategic engagement, a loss of public grip on systems that determine what is visible, how decisions are made and who gets access to essential services is imminent.
AIV Chairman Bert Koenders: "The Netherlands must actively forge coalitions within European frameworks, invest in public alternatives and diplomatically commit to international agreements that protect public values - without unnecessarily inhibiting innovation. This requires political decisiveness, multilateral cooperation and business involvement."
The Netherlands has solid starting positions: from knowledge institutions and semiconductor technology to ethical AI policy and digital infrastructure. Yet it lacks an international strategy that connects these qualities. The AIV calls for more administrative coherence, a single point of contact for international AI cooperation and actively reducing dependencies, such as on foreign cloud providers. In doing so, AI policy must steer clearly toward public interests: innovation must contribute to transparency, equity and control. Only with steady direction will the Netherlands retain influence in a rapidly internationalizing AI landscape.
The Advisory Council argues that AI applications deeply affect public values: they influence what is visible, how decisions are made and who gets access to facilities. Joint European action is needed to set standards, influence global frameworks and protect public interests. The European AI regulation provides a foundation, but needs to be strengthened with investment in a private, publicly driven AI ecosystem. By developing technology that is explainable, verifiable and value-driven, Europe can provide a credible alternative to commercially and geopolitically driven AI.
Transparency, data access and accountability should not be the prerogative of a select few states or companies. The AIV therefore advocates active Dutch involvement in the development of global rules of the game within forums such as the UN and the Council of Europe. Particularly now that different countries are applying different standards or abandoning previous agreements, it is important that the Netherlands commit to robust, inclusive and enforceable agreements. This requires a consistent diplomatic strategy that brings together the technological, geopolitical and democratic interests of the Netherlands and Europe.
