The Dutch frigate Zr.Ms. De Ruyter, which specialises in air defense and command operations, is being moved closer to the Middle East as it could be used to help secure maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, APA reports.
The vessel is currently travelling from Southeast Asia towards the area as a precautionary step, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz told parliament in a written briefing. She underlined that no final decision has been taken on whether the ship will actually be deployed. A minesweeper has already been dispatched to the region in an earlier move.
The Netherlands is actively engaged in preparations for a multinational operation in the Strait of Hormuz, with France and the UK taking the lead, Yeşilgöz said. It was also announced that the Defense ministry is putting its Reaper (MQ-9) drones at NATO’s disposal to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of US drone support.
The systems will be kept on standby for potential NATO operations aimed at defending Europe, including in the event of a Russian attack. The alliance had specifically asked for the drones after the United States decided it would no longer keep them earmarked for European use.
In coordination with allied countries, it has been assessed that a Dutch air-defence and command frigate could play an important role if the mission goes ahead. As a result, the vessel has already set course for the strategic waterway between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, a voyage that is expected to take several weeks.
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