A look at the Defence news 2 – 8 December
Last week, Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans visited the roughly 150 Dutch servicemen and women currently deployed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia.
At the air base the RNLAF's detachment is monitoring NATO airspace over Eastern Europe. The minister was also on board navy frigate HNLMS Van Amstel, located off the Estonian coast.
Ukrainian crew trained on board HNLMS Makkum
Last week, 35 Ukrainian military personnel completed their training on board the Dutch minehunter HNLMS Makkum. They will eventually make up the crew of minehunter HNLMS Vlaardingen, which was withdrawn from service in March this year. HNLMS Makkum was decommissioned on 25 November. Both vessels are to be donated to Ukraine.
Detainees prepare old Defence uniforms for Ukraine
The Defence Clothing and Personal Equipment Agency and the Almelo Penitentiary have joined forces. Since last week, detainees have been preparing old uniforms for the Ukrainian armed forces. The aim is to eventually make some 30,000 uniforms available for re-use in the conflict area.