A look at the Defence news 14 - 20 June
At the NATO headquarters in Brussels, heads of state and government discussed how to keep the alliance future-proof. In his first meeting with NATO allies as the President of the United States, Joe Biden expressed his strong commitment to NATO. Existing and new threats, and how to deal with them, were discussed. Prime Minister Mark Rutte and ministers Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Defence) and Sigrid Kaag (Foreign Affairs) were in attendance on behalf of the Netherlands.
2 illegal drug transports intercepted in one night by navy in the Caribbean
HNLMS Holland recently intercepted 2 major drug transports in the Caribbean in 1 night. In both cases, the patrol vessel, operating in the Caribbean Sea, managed to force so-called go-fast motorboats to stop.
Friendship Nijmegen-Albany symbol of international solidarity
Selflessly offering a helping hand, that is what the American city of Albany did when the Dutch city of Nijmegen lay in ruins after the liberation in 1945. In 1947, the capital of the state of New York sent over 300 tonnes of relief supplies to Nijmegen. Last week, the Friendship Albany-Nijmegen foundation celebrated its fifth anniversary, thus keeping the story of a very special friendship between 2 cities alive.
Navy searching for aircraft wrecks in IJsselmeer
Members of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Defence Diving Group are currently searching for 2 aircraft wrecks from the Second World War. It is believed that the wrecks of the 2 aircraft, a Lancaster and a Manchester of the Royal Air Force, can be found in the IJsselmeer near the town of Makkum, in the Dutch province of Friesland.