A look at the Defence news 3-9 February
In the near future, Ukraine will be able to make use of a mobile research laboratory to investigate alleged war crimes. Defence is to donate a Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) to this end. A delegation from Ukraine signed the contract for the handover last week. The Netherlands thus contributes to counteracting impunity and to the investigation of alleged war crimes in the war-torn country.
JDEAL is a mobile laboratory made up of 13 containers, equipped with all sorts of devices to carry out forensic and technical investigations on site. This includes investigating fingerprints, analysing traces of DNA and extracting and analysing data from mobile phones. The mobile lab is easy to transport and can be deployed within a few days.
Change of command in Lithuania
Command of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Lithuania is back in German hands. The Dutch officer Lieutenant Colonel Bas Schillemans passed on the baton in Rukla. He directed more than 1,300 military personnel from six countries for a period of six months. Lieutenant Colonel Malte Bolanz of the German Bundeswehr is now commander of the 17th rotation. The scouts of the Royal Netherlands Army’s ‘Boreel’ Hussars Regiment are currently active in Lithuania. From now on, the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Lithuania is to be called Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania.
Liveability fund for residents near NATO base Geilenkirchen
The Defence organisation is to contribute to a liveability fund for residents of the municipalities of Brunssum and Beekdaelen. They are experiencing inconvenience from the NATO base in Geilenkirchen, located just across the border in Germany. From there, radar aircraft (AWACS) regularly take off to secure European airspace. The Defence organisation and the municipalities concerned have now made a number of agreements on how to move forward. This is the starting point for a new, joint approach. Over the coming five years, Defence will make 5 million Euros available for the liveability fund. This will enable the municipalities to invest in the quality of the environment.