A look at the Defence news 6 - 12 December

The Dutch and French armies intend to undertake even closer cooperation in the field of training and exercises. A letter of intent to that effect was signed by Lieutenant General Wijnen, the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army, and his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, in Paris this week. 

Enlarge image The Royal Netherlands Navy vessel HNLMS Holland intercepted a total of 235 kilos of cocaine.
The Royal Netherlands Navy vessel HNLMS Holland intercepted a total of 235 kilos of cocaine.

Traas to lead rapid NATO air command

Commodore Denny Traas will be the new commander of NATO Deployable Air Command and Control Centre from mid-January 2022. Appointments to the position alternate between Dutch and Italian officers every 3 years. Traas will be promoted to the rank of major general on 1 January 2022.

1 German-Netherlands Corps under Dutch command

The German-Netherlands army corps headquarters, located in Münster, Germany, is to come under Dutch command in the new year. Lieutenant General Nico Tak will take over command of the headquarters from his German counterpart Andreas Marlow on 17 March.

Maas appointed to senior NATO position

Brigadier General Jan-Willem Maas is set to be appointed the new Deputy Chief of Staff Plans at NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum in the southern Netherlands. He will first be promoted to the rank of major general and formally succeed Lieutenant General Kees Matthijssen on 10 January 2022. Lieutenant General Matthijssen is to become the new Force Commander of the UN mission Minusma in Mali.

More drugs intercepted by HNLMS Holland

The Royal Netherlands Navy vessel HNLMS Holland has intercepted a drugs transport for the third time in quick succession. The patrol vessel managed to stop a go-fast boat carrying drugs with 2 people on board. The drugs haul came to a total of 235 kilos of cocaine. The interception took place on 17 November, but was only made public last week.