A look at the Defence news 7 - 13 October
The last Marine Corps unit in Bosnia-Herzegovina has returned to the Netherlands. Approximately 150 Marines contributed to the EU mission EUFOR Althea for one year. The aim of the mission is to safeguard stability in the Western Balkans.
Romanian military personnel have now taken over this role. However, the Dutch contribution in Bosnia is not over. A number of staff officers and a small team from the National Support Element will stay behind to contribute to the mission headquarters.
Russian ships pass the Netherlands under military escort
Last week, air defence and command frigate HNLMS De Ruyter escorted two Russian ships sailing past the Netherlands. These were the Soobrazitelny, a small Russian navy warship, and the oil tanker General Skobolev. Both ships were sailing through the Netherlands’ exclusive economic zone. Although that is allowed, Defence would rather monitor them. There is critical infrastructure in the North Sea, such as data cables and pipelines. There were no incidents during the monitoring of the ships.
Special forces from the Netherlands and Belgium start working together globally
The Netherlands and Belgium are to set up a joint task force on maritime special forces. This Combined Special Operations Maritime Task Group may be deployed worldwide as early as next year, in all spectrums of force. Both countries signed an agreement to this end last week. Although the special forces of the two countries already work intensively together, they have so far prepared themselves separately. From now on, they will more often work as one team.
Drug hauls becoming day-to-day business for HNLMS Holland
Last month, HNLMS Holland seized more than 7,750 kilos of drugs and made five seizures, with another successful interception made at the end of September. The navy ship intercepted 2,285 kilos of drugs and detained five smugglers. The interception took place on 24 September but was only made public last week. The intercepted drugs and the suspects were handed over to the US Coast Guard. The smugglers will face prosecution in the United States.