Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren today signed an agreement to further deepen bilateral military cooperation. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Berlin Security Conference.
The new agreement contains, among other things, the aim of both countries intensifying their coordination in security and defense policy, also with a view to their actions in international organizations and forums as well as further joint support for Ukraine, according to a spokesman for the BMVg.
In addition, as part of the agreement, the aim is to strengthen cooperation in alliance defense and to cooperate more closely on the eastern flank as part of the NATO Force Model.
There are currently plans for the Netherlands, alongside the Norwegians, to contribute forces to the German Lithuania Brigade.
In addition, the agreement provides for closer coordination of the joint development of military capabilities and the procurement of defense equipment. According to the spokesman, they also want to work more closely together in training, exercises and operations. On X, the BMVg also writes that “tank cooperation” is part of the agreement.
Part of the agreement is also a roadmap in which the agreements reached are operationalized in concrete projects, said the spokesman.
The current cooperation between the Bundeswehr and the Dutch armed forces is unprecedented. So the Dutch placed their entire combat brigades, three in number, under German divisions. In return, the navy's sea battalion was placed under the command of the Dutch marine infantry, the Mariniers Corps.
The equipment of both armies will also be further aligned in the future through the procurement of the F-35 and the Chinook transport helicopter for the Air Force. Both aircraft are already in service in the Netherlands. In addition, both armed forces plan to procure a common vehicle for their airborne troops. This increases interoperability and simplifies collaboration.
Both Defense Minister Ollongren and Defense Minister Pistorius were pleased with the further deepening of the military partnership.
Editorial / oh
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