US Ambassador Peter Hoekstra shares about the recent event he attended with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on May 24, 2020, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, a day before America's Memorial Day ceremonies. At the event, the Dutch King Willem-Alexander laid the first wreath during the annual commemoration ceremony and observed a moment of silence. Over 10,000 American servicemen and women are buried or memorialized at the Netherlands American Cemetery in the southern Netherlands town of Margraten.
US Ambassador Hoekstra spoke about the Netherlands' response to COVID-19, the European economic landscape, and the importance of US and Netherlands' shared values. The discussion focused on US-EU trade. America's Roundtable co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy asked questions relating to China's efforts within the EU over the past years, specifically the "The Belt and Road Initiative" and deals to secure contracts for seaport development projects in the Adriatic region, primarily in Northern Italy and Rijeka, Croatia - both NATO members.
Memorial Day 2020 Video — US Embassy in the Netherlands: Overview of the complete ceremony, including speeches of Ambassador Hoekstra, Dutch Defense Minister Bijleveld, Limburg King's Commissioner Theo Bovens and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod Wolters: https://youtu.be/jyDPVpnZr_4