News item | 07-07-2023 | 3:00 PM
The Cabinet has decided to assign a permanent task to Defense to identify potential threats in the vicinity of the Dutch part of the North Sea. Minister Ollongren of Defense reports this on behalf of the cabinet in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The government recognizes the threat of sabotage to vital infrastructure in and under the sea. Consider, for example, mapping internet cables, gas pipelines and wind farms, but also preparing for disruption and sabotage or espionage via data cables. Something is now being done about this by giving Defense a permanent role in protecting this infrastructure. In this way, Defense can better contribute to the picture of threats in the North Sea.
It’s about increasing the so-called Situational Awareness and Situation Understanding. This means that Defense is building up a picture and understanding of threat actors and factors in the North Sea. These observations are processed and can possibly be shared with private partners and allies. The Ministry of Defense works closely with the Netherlands Coast Guard on this. The Coast Guard is already mapping out a detailed (traffic) image in the context of its duties for enforcement and service provision, for example. Defense is now contributing to this and is also looking mainly at state threats. The Ministry of Defense and the Coast Guard are also strengthening cooperation with (private) sector parties in the North Sea. The primary responsibility for the protection of vital infrastructure lies with the providers themselves.
Escort ships of non-NATO allies or partners
With this permanent task, the government is also formalizing the escort of ships from non-allies or partners through the Dutch part of the North Sea. The Ministry of Defense currently regularly escorts Russian ships through the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on the basis of agreements with NATO allies.
Zr.Ms. De Ruyter and Tromp, for example, shadowed the Russian research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky in the North Sea last week. The Russian ship sailed through the Dutch EEZ, which is permitted under international law. The navy shadowed the Russian ship to show vigilance for protecting vital infrastructure in the North Sea. The ship gained international notoriety for having been repeatedly associated with naval espionage activities.
Furthermore, just like the AIVD, the MIVD already has a role in investigating (covert) activities that pose a risk to national security. The vital infrastructure in the North Sea is part of this.