Military Cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands

Declaration of Intent between the Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the further Enhancement of Bilateral Relations in the Field of Defence

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Security, Defence and Armaments Policy

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Both sides will identify, discuss and strive for a common understanding of defence-related strategic and policy issues of common interest. They therefore intend to maintain close relations at defence ministers' level and to continue their semi-annual bilateral security policy talks at Policy Directors' level (High Level Steering Group).

Cooperation on Capabilities

Multinational approaches as well as Pooling and Sharing are key instruments in closing capability gaps and in ensuring the provision of adequate military capabilities. Both sides strongly support the EU and NATO initiatives currently being pursued. The two sides underline that closer cooperation will improve efficiency in the area of capability development, thus creating a long-term advantage for both countries. All possibilities for bilateral cooperation will be exploited, within all areas of concept and capability development, command and control, combat as well as combat support and combat service support.

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Operations, Joint Exercises and Training

Past combined efforts of the German and Netherlands armed forces include operations in Kosovo (KFOR), in Afghanistan (ISAF including two rotations of the 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps as ISAF HQ, PRT and the Police Training Mission in Kunduz), off the Horn of Africa (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (EUFOR). Of recent date is the cooperation in the PATRIOT deployment to Turkey (ACTIVE FENCE/ANATOLIAN PROTECTOR). In view of their many commonalities in their strategic and operational approach to multinational operations, both sides declare their willingness to intensify al possibilities for cooperation, particularly in future operations.

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Both nations intend to enhance the use of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps as platform for combined training as well as the leading command and control element for multinational operations. Furthermore, the integration of 11 (Netherlands) Airmobile Brigade (11(NLD) LMB) into the German Division Schnelle Kräfte (DEU DSK) by January 2014 will enhance interoperability and common planning, preparations and pre-deployment training.

The permanent posting of exchange officers at MoD level and at headquarters as well as the exchange of personnel in their national units and of instructors and students/cadets at military educational institutions are well-established procedures and extremely valuable in underlining the willingness to integrate. Both sides are prepared to examine further possibilities to exchange personnel.

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