The Netherlands will participate in the Minusma, with commandos and helicopters
(BRUSSELS2) The Dutch government does not intend, this time, to miss the opportunity. The Netherlands want to bring a “significant contribution to MINUSMA, the United Nations stabilization mission in Mali. A plan is in preparation, writes the Volkskrant (the center-left daily), and should be presented within two weeks to the Council of Ministers.
Top of the spectrum
According to this plan, the Dutch will occupy the "top of the spectrum" of the force with 70 commandos able to intervene behind enemy lines, 70 intelligence officers who will be at the UN headquarters in Bamako, 4 "Apache" attack helicopters and their team of pilots and support (100 people), to which must be added a "force protection" unit and the support staff. In all 400 men. The Minusma should have a workforce of 12.600 people but only 5.200 blue helmets have already arrived in the country.
Hesitations about EUTM Mali
The Hague had "missed" the train from the European Union mission (EUTM Mali). Paris had approached the Hague twice. But without success. The reason: the division within the coalition between liberals and social democrats. " Political friction between the coalition of VVD and PvdA partners has led to government delays and indecision” tells our colleague. “To the great frustration of Dutch diplomats in Brussels”.
Diplomatic damage to recover
These hesitations made a lot of damage in Brussels ". And, today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frans Timmermans (PvDA), is determined to catch up with these misses. He would thus have convinced Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) to move forward on this dossier. The presence of a Dutchman, Bert Koenders of the PvdA, as the UN's special representative in Mali, is pushing for decisive participation by the Dutch, who are effectively the only major European country not to be present in Mali. A certain European ambition for 2014 of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is not foreign to this activism either. Timmermans aims to be the next Dutch commissioner or even High Representative.
An army that wants to prove its quality
In short, The Hague feels an obligation to be there. But as the "easy positions" - as explained by a Dutch diplomat - have already been distributed (understand by "easy", the training of Malians in a secure camp), it is necessary to go to more risky positions. Which is not to displease some officers. After the "defeat" of Srebrenica, and the early departure from Uruzgan (Afghanistan) due to political division, the Dutch soldiers have revenge to take.
