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NATO Secretary-General Rutte and President Trump dominate the political and security agenda with a Greenland-focused deal, while the economy shows resilience through ASML's record orders and corporate restructuring by Shell and Philips.
January 2026
Week of Jan 26, compared to 12-week average
No deviations this week.All weeks this month are quiet.
The economy is marked by corporate strategic shifts and strong tech demand. ASML reports record orders driven by AI chip demand, while Shell explores exiting major assets in Canada and Argentina. Philips is seeking AI work in Telangana, and airlines are suspending routes to the Middle East and Israel due to regional tensions.
Politics is dominated by transatlantic negotiations over Greenland and internal Dutch party instability. NATO's Rutte convinced Trump to reverse a tariff threat on Greenland, securing a 'forever' deal, while seven lawmakers quit Geert Wilders' far-right party in a major setback. EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss the Trump-Greenland issue.
Security policy is focused on external threats and European defense cohesion. The Netherlands ruling coalition declared Russia a 'key security threat', and the EU designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. France and Spain rejected Dutch PM skepticism on European defense, highlighting intra-European tensions.
Society is grappling with domestic safety incidents and climate anxiety. An explosion in Utrecht caused by a gas leak and a separate explosion in the Netherlands injured multiple people, while the Dutch government was ordered to protect a sinking island from climate change. A protest was held over police violence against Muslim women.