The Netherlands Enhances Military Cooperation with Turkey

Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen had a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Dr. Ismet Yilmaz in Istanbul last week.

The Defence ministers signed a statement aimed at enhancing the military cooperation between the two NATO allies.

Mr Hillen subsequently paid a visit to the frigate HNLMS Evertsen, which was moored in the Bosporus to mark the quatercentenary of Dutch-Turkish relations. The ship made this stop en route to East Africa where it will operate as the flag ship of a NATO task group in the counterpiracy mission Ocean Shield.

On board the Evertsen, Mr Hillen and Minister of Economic Affairs Maxime Verhagen attended a network meeting convened by the Turkish and Dutch commercial sectors for the promotion of trade relations. The defence and security sectors were represented by high-tech companies, such as Thales, Damen and Fokker. The meeting was also attended by Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

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Naval Today Staff, May 31, 2012; Image: Dutch MoD