Queen Máxima of the Netherlands joins the army as a reservist, as

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has joined her country’s military as a reservist, expressing concern for national security.

Máxima, 54, “has chosen to register now because our security can no longer be taken for granted,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the Dutch royal family, “and she, like many others, wants to contribute to that security.”

After training with the Royal Netherlands Army, the Argentine-born Dutch queen will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and “like other reservists, will deploy where necessary,” according to the royal family statement.

Photographs released by the family show the queen participating in “Mental Skills” training at the Royal Dutch Military Academy in Breda, in the south of the country, participating in various exercises. In one she is seen pointing a gun.

An accompanying video set to high-energy rock-dance music shows Maxima smiling in a green military uniform before jumping into a pool and then rock climbing in a helmet.

Queen Máxima is not the first member of a European royal family to serve in their respective countries’ armed forces. His own daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, recently finished her military training and was promoted to corporal.

Last year, Princess Ingrid Alexandria of Norway completed 15 months of service as a gunner in an engineer battalion. And Princess Leonor of Spain is in the last of three years of training in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Many members of the British royal family, living and dead, have also served in the armed forces, including king charles iihis son Prince William and his youngest son prince harrywho served two tours in Afghanistan.

A European army?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the perceived unpredictability of the United States as a strong NATO ally have shaken Europe’s sense of security in recent years.

President Trump has pressured European countries to dramatically increase their domestic defense spending and reduce what he sees as their dependence on U.S. forces in NATO. He also recently attempted to seize Greenland from Denmark, causing a rift in the alliance and even threatening allies with tariffs. before turning back.

In January, European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the EU should consider having a 100,000-strong joint military force, separate from NATO.

“We have to start investing our money in such a way that we can fight as Europe, not just as a collection of 27 national ‘bonsai armies’,” he said.

Compulsory military service throughout Europe

“We refuse to continue to depend on others for our protection,” the Netherlands’ newly formed coalition government said last week, adding that it will require young people to complete a mandatory survey about military service.

“If this does not give sufficient results,” the government said, “we will consider other measures, such as reintroducing selective compulsory attendance.”

Nine European NATO member states already have some form of conscription: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

Croatia plans to reintroduce conscription this year, forcing men aged 19 to 29 to undergo two months of basic training, and several other countries – including France and Germany – have recently introduced schemes to incentivize young men to serve.