Defence is donating a new military aid package worth €500 million to Ukraine, with €250 million earmarked for drones. The drones will be purchased from Dutch defence industry partners. The other €250 million is a contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a US initiative.
Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius en haar Oekraïense ambtsgenoot Mykhailo Fedorov.
Netherlands Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius made the announcement in The Hague last week, during her Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov's working visit to the Netherlands.
HNLMS De Ruyter sets course for the Strait of Hormuz
Air defence and command frigate HNLMS De Ruyter may be given a role in safeguarding free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. In view of this possible role, the Ministry of Defence had HNLMS De Ruyter change course, with the ship now sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz. The frigate is expected to reach the region in a few weeks' time. Netherlands Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius informed the House of Representatives accordingly in a letter last week. The minister stressed that the government had not yet made a decision on possible further deployments from the Netherlands.
HNLMS De Ruyter has now been on a 'world tour' for more than two months. Last week, the navy vessel was in the port of Tokyo, where Minister Yeşilgöz and Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy Vice Admiral Harold Liebregs welcomed the ship and its crew. The minister also met with her counterpart Shinjirō Koizumi in the Japanese capital, where they discussed regional developments and how Japan and the Netherlands can further strengthen and deepen their cooperation.
Netherlands joins the digital drone market
The Netherlands is planning to join a virtual and centralised platform that offers drones and anti-drone systems. The platform is an American initiative that is intended to enable fast procurement. There are currently 8 international participants, who all signed the agreement last week during Eurosatory, the largest international exhibition for the defence and security industry held in Paris every two years.