A look at the Defence news 16 – 22 February
Last week, amphibious transport ship HNLMS Johan de Witt set sail for northern Norway to take part in exercise Cold Response.
Around 25,000 military personnel from 14 countries, including the US, will be participating in this large scale Arctic NATO exercise, which is part of NATO mission Arctic Sentry. The exercise will be held on land and in the waters around Norway and Finland.
Navy ship to leave for Indo-Pacific
Last week, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence announced that HNLMS De Ruyter will be leaving for the Indo-Pacific in mid-April for a five-month period. The air defence and command frigate will call at multiple ports as the Netherlands aims to strengthen its ties with various countries in the region. Maritime security and stability in the Indo-Pacific are in the interest of the Netherlands. With its presence, the navy vessel will contribute to the promotion of the international rule of law.
Increased hybrid threats from Russia
In addition to the war of aggression in Ukraine, a military escalation between Russia and the West has become a plausible scenario. The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) are also concerned about the increased threat posed by Russian hybrid activities in the grey zone between war and peace. All of this and more is discussed in the joint AIVD and MIVD publication ‘Tussen vrede en oorlog’ (between war and peace), which was published last week. In their report, the services provide insight into the Russian threat that is manifesting itself in various ways in Europe.