The Dutch Parliament approves the dispatch of a frigate to the Gulf

(B2) The second chamber of the Dutch Parliament approved on Thursday (26 March) the deployment of a frigate - the Hr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën (F 802) - off the coast of Somalia as part of a NATO"Allied Protector" to fight against piracy. The frigate is already present in the region - as part of one of NATO's permanent maritime groups (SNMG 1) - which cruises in the vicinity, as part of one of its visits (*).

As the Dutch Ministry of Defense explains, "ships will devote part of their time against piracy". The Dutch frigate will thus be present in the area until the end of April, as well as "on the way back", from mid to late June.

The Dutch crew includes 170 soldiers, as well as a team of Marine commandos, two Marechaussee gendarmes and a prosecutor. This thus makes it possible - to carry out the first investigative actions required in the event of the arrest of pirates. Which is rather prudent, given the antecedents. NB: a Dutch frigate will reinforce the EU anti-piracy operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta this summer.

(*) I have already written what I thought of these "NATO cruises. So I wouldn't want to repeat myself. But I find useless for the taxpayer's money and futile this kind of action. The EU has - in my opinion - more legitimacy to organize a complex and difficult operation off the coast of Somalia. Because it has the legal, political and economic instruments to carry out this type of operation. Its action is serious and long-term: at least one year. And not actions of one or two weeks in passing in the region. That ships from different States come temporarily to reinforce this operation is useful and judicious. What'NATO inventing an anti-piracy mission, outside the legal framework (apart from a national system), for ships passing through the area, it's quite daring.

(photo: Dutch Ministry of Defence. "From Zeven Provinciën to the Suez crossing" on March 24)

(NGV)