HNLMS Evertsen to be deployed to the Mediterranean
The air defence and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen will be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean from this week until early April. The frigate will contribute to the protection of aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle’s carrier strike group, as well as the defence of Cyprus and allied territory. Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen and Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced this decision to the Senate and the House of Representatives today.
Mr Berendsen said, ‘With this deployment, the Netherlands is showing solidarity with its allies and contributing to European cooperation to defend the international legal order.’
Ms Yeşilgöz-Zegerius said, ‘HNLMS Evertsen has unique capabilities in the area of long-range aerial threat detection, which enable the crew to protect themselves and allies. By operating jointly with France we are also strengthening operations at European level.’
This is a defensive deployment, prompted by the recent developments in the Middle East and the Iranian attacks on surrounding countries, including several partners of the Netherlands. In this way the Netherlands is contributing to European cooperation to defend the international legal order, and is also showing solidarity with its European partners.
Part of carrier strike group
Air defence and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen has been part of the carrier strike group centred on French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle since 4 February. Last week, France asked the Netherlands for continued support within the carrier strike group. HNLMS Evertsen’s sensors and weapon systems are well suited to defend naval formations against the threat from drones and missiles.