Senior representatives from the Royal UK Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy have signed a long-standing agreement to share operational training and naval assets.
Vice Admiral David Steel CBE, Second Sea Lord and Vice Admiral Matthieu J M Borsboom, Commander Royal Netherlands Navy signed the memorandum of understanding between the two navies to share sea training, assets and skills over the next three years.
The signing took place on board HMS Victory, where cooperation between the navies was already happening during the Battle of Trafalgar with seven Dutch sailors serving onboard.
That cooperation has continued to evolve with the UK and Dutch navies working together to provide training for the past 50 years, predominantly on exercise serials in Plymouth and across the world.
The signing was followed by Admiral Borsboom and the Second Sea Lord attending the commemorative Drumhead Ceremony in Southsea with HRH the Princess Royal and D-Day veterans to honour and remember the multi-national sacrifices made on 6 June 1944.
VAdm Steel said: “The aim of this signing is to reinforce the superb training relationship between the RN/RNLN and ensure that this excellent relationship continues over the next three years. This is particular poignant today as we commemorate the mass Allied assault on Normandy 70 years ago where the two countries worked so closely together.”
The memorandum of understanding will be reviewed again in 2017.
[mappress] Press Release, June 16, 2014; Image: UK Navy