The Kingdom of the Netherlands and its Armed-Forces
November 2016
Royal Netherlands Navy in Operation Atalanta-5
The close partnership between the EU Naval Force in Operation Atalanta and NATO in Operation Ocean Shield has been the vital path for enduring success at the military and political fronts for both.
In the recent port visit of the Frigate HNLMS Tromp to the Seychelles, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander Commodore Luyckx,was welcomed by Royal Danish Air Force Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment based in the Seychelles as a part of NATO in Operation Ocean Shield.
The Royal Netherlands Naval frigate HNLMS Tromp, the flagship of EU NAVFOR since the August of this year, and the Spanish frigateESPS Santa Mariaalso part of EU NAVFOR, came to friendly approach at Sea during their maritime patrolling in the Gulf of Aden. The Force Commander,Commodore Luyckx of the Royal Netherlands Navy, visited the warship ESPS Santa Maria and delivered a speech in Spanish expressing his gratitude to the Naval crew.
In the same frame of time, the flagship HNLMS Tromp and its Dutch Naval force conducted a training for the port authorities in Puntland, Somalia. The training took place with the presence and support of the Representatives from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ‘UNODC‘.
The Royal Dutch Air Defence and Command Frigate HNLMS Tromp equipped with NH90 Chopper, will be for the next approximately four months the Flagship of Operation Atalanta, the HQ of Force Commander Commodore René Luyckx, and his crew added with 10 other European State’s personnel and several EU partners in the Counter-Piracy Operation.
This is the second time that Commodore René Luyckx leads the Operation. In May 2015 he was the Commanding Officer ofHNLMS Johan de Witt in Operation Atalanta.
His current Flagship HNLMS Tromp of RoyalNetherlands Navy, does also conjure up….. a well-known tale of a Ship, and the electrifying hostage Rescuing Operation…….. by the Dutch Marines …. in the chapters of the European Union’s Naval Operation Atalanta.
It was in the early hours of April 5 2010, in the abruptly hijacking situation the MV Taipan (German owned container Ship) and its crew were taken hostage by a group of Armed Pirates. The unclassified correspondence of European Naval Force indicates that as the negotiation attempts with the Pirates did not bring a positive result, the HNLMS Tromp launched an offensive course, by authorizing its Dutch Marines to a swift Disrupt….., Boarding, …. and Rescue Operation….. which ended in …..seizing the Vessel ……and rescuing the hostages unharmed. The Armed-Pirates were rounded up and captured…….later transported to the Netherlands for the trial.
NATO Secretary General met with Prime Minister Mark Rutteof the Netherlands to discuss important issues on the wide spectrum of NATO, Europe and the Global Security. The Secretary General commended the Netherlands highly valuable contributions to the NATO’s Collective Defence.
The United States praised the Netherlands leadership
Secretary of Defense Carter praised the Netherlands on its expansion of Air Campaign Against ISIL
“I want to commend the government of the Netherlands for its announcement today that Dutch Pilots will expand their current mission over Iraq to participate in coalition air strikes against ISIL in eastern Syria. I also appreciate the announcement of additional funding to support moderate armed Syrian opposition groups with civilian means and medical assistance, consideration of additional support to the Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga, and additional funding for the restoration of damaged hospitals, schools and other infrastructure.”
Since 2008, as a vital part of EU Naval Force, the Royal Netherlands Navy has been greatly engaged in Operation Atalanta.
In August 2015, for the first time, the Royal Dutch Navy deployed one of its golden Ace ‘Patrol Vessel HNLMS Groningen’ to EU Naval Force for the ongoing Counter-piracy ‘the Operation Atalanta’.
In its leading position, the Royal Warship HNLMS Groningen was engaged in: Patrolling the regional water for maintaining Security and giving protection to ‘ Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN’. And in the Joint Training and Exercise with the regional Maritime Forces.
On November 27. the Royal Netherlands Warship accomplished its three months period mission and was awarded the Medal of Operation Atalanta.
The UN Peacekeeping Operations Summit 28 September 2015
The Netherlands will remain fully committed to Peacekeeping in the years ahead.
Let me be specific:
We have made long-term extra funds available for defence in general and peacekeeping in particular.
Our contribution to the UN’s MINUSMA mission in Mali, of 450 military, police and civilian personnel, is to be extended by one year. Our efforts are aimed at the intelligence capability of the missions. We’ll also be helping more generally to develop policy and capabilities to boost the quality of intelligence in UN missions.
Along with other countries, including the US, the Dutch military will continue to train soldiers from African countries.
The protection of civilians is also a key UN and Dutch priority. That is why the Netherlands and the US are developing a new training module on civilian protection, and why the Netherlands endorses the Kigali Principles. Together with partners, we will organise a conference on this issue next year.
And last but not least, we will make a big financial contribution to enhancing theUN’s planning capacity. Because, as I said, we must keep supplying the UN with enough people and resources.
The first image on the top of the page Frigate HNLMS Tromp of Royal Netherlands Navy, August 2016 is copy-righted to EU NAVFOR
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UK Royal Navy in London’s Poppy Day 2016 
