A look at the Defence news 17 – 23 May
The Caribbean Coastguard intercepted almost 50% fewer drugs in 2020 compared to the previous year. Significantly fewer illegal immigrants were also apprehended. The fall in numbers can be attributed to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was set out in the annual report sent by Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten to the House of Representatives.
Naval shipyards focus on future cooperation with European subsidy
SEA DEFENCE is a project involving major European naval shipyards and knowledge institutes. It is the first maritime project to receive a subsidy from the European Commission’s European Defence Industry Development Programme, to the tune of € 14.29 million. The project is being led by Damen, but involves participation from the Netherlands by the navy, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN).
Major role for Dutch troops in large-scale NATO training exercise
Dutch military personnel played a major role in Swift Response, a NATO exercise designed to boost readiness and improve procedures between the US, NATO and other international partners.
Air defence task for HNLMS Evertsen in extensive fleet
HNLMS Evertsen has set sail for Japan. For the next 7 months, the air defence and command frigate will form part of the 10-ship UK Carrier Strike Group.