Dutch Minister of Defense visits Northwood

Gestart door Lex, 21/06/2010 | 16:43 uur

Lex

On Saturday 19 June Mr Eimert van Middelkoop, the acting minister of defence of the Netherlands visited Northwood to receive a briefing on Operation Ocean Shield. Mr van Middelkoop was accompaniedby Mr Casteleijn, the Departmental Head of Defence Policy, Commodore Reefman, Operations Deputy Director, Mr Waldeck , the NLD ambassador to London and Captain Campagne, the NLD Defence attaché in London.

Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hank Ort briefed the minister on the importance of the Counter Piracy operation and how the deterrence and disruption of pirate activities makes a difference to the safety of all seafarers. RADM Ort stated that our success is based on military and merchant measures (eg Best Management Practice) and contacts with Somali authorities. RADM Ort also said that working with the EU, CMF and other navies meant that there was a real co- ordination of effort in HQ's, in the IRTC and at sea. This allows all 3 organisations to present a united effort when tackling piracy. Colonel Richard Spencer (Chief of Staff of EU's Atalanta) was present at the brief and acknowledged the success of cooperation and coordination between NATO and EU.

NATO, 21 June 10