Is the Netherlands Ready for War? | Former Marine Marc Pollen on Combat Readiness, the Future of NATO, and Europe's Security

In this episode, Paul Buitink sits down with former Marine and Special Forces veteran Marc Polllen to discuss war, geopolitics, and the resilience of the Netherlands. Marc reflects on his deployment to Afghanistan, where he worked closely with the Afghan military and witnessed firsthand the immense challenges of creating lasting change. In his view, the Taliban’s return to power ultimately demonstrated the limited prospects of Western nation-building efforts.

He also explores the shifting global balance of power, arguing that the influence of the United States is gradually declining while countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and India are asserting themselves on the world stage. In this changing geopolitical landscape, Marc sees a lack of strategic vision in both Europe and the Netherlands. According to him, the greatest threat is not necessarily a direct military attack, but rather internal division, growing polarization, and the erosion of social cohesion.

The conversation further covers NATO, defense spending, the war in Ukraine, and the impact of emerging technologies such as drones on modern warfare. Marc advocates for a strong national narrative that can unite people around a shared purpose. In his view, only a society with sufficient unity, resilience, and a clear sense of direction will be able to successfully navigate the geopolitical challenges of the future.