A look at the Defence news 17 – 23 March
The Netherlands intends to contribute to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. To this end, Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans attended de Raisina Dialogue 2025 in India last week, one of the most important geopolitical conferences in the Asia and Oceania region.
The minister stressed how, in our grim geopolitical reality, it is important to strengthen our ties with ‘non-aligned’ India. He also said that stability in the Indo-Pacific region is interwoven with the trade interests and security of the Netherlands.
Netherlands and Kenya to increase military cooperation
Last week, the Netherlands and Kenya signed a declaration of intent on increased defence cooperation. Netherlands Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, who was in Kenya to accompany King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima during part of their state visit, signed the declaration.
Army preparing for psychological operations
More than 200 military personnel from 14 countries were engaged in a psychological operations exercise held in Germany last week. 1 Civil-Military Interaction Command from Apeldoorn represented the Netherlands during Exercise Active Volcano. After Germany, this unit supplied the largest number of military personnel taking part in the exercise. Active Volcano is one of the largest exercises of its kind in Europe. Psychological operations in the military domain are all about deception. They can disrupt the enemy's fighting power and improve the own position.
NATO fleet bares its teeth in the high north
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) is currently patrolling between Iceland and Greenland, where it is keeping an eye on threats from the air. This operational area is strategically important for the Alliance. The Royal Netherlands Navy's air defence and command frigate HNLMS Tromp currently has a key role within SNMG 1.