The Dutch government has decided to prolong its participation in EU anti-piracy operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.

The anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden are starting to pay off. According to foreign minister Maxime Verhagen, ‘while the number of incidents involving pirates has grown since the operation started in December 2008, the number of successful attacks has decreased.’ This is why the Netherlands will prolong its participation in Operation Atalanta. ‘There is an undiminished need to provide maritime protection to convoys carrying humanitarian aid for Somalia, aid on which millions of people depend. What’s more, safe, free shipping routes around the world are vitally important to the Netherlands for economic, strategic and security reasons.’

From the middle of February 2010 to the end of June 2010, the Netherlands will deploy HNLMS Tromp, an air defence and command frigate, and the amphibious transport ship HNLMS Johan de Witt. The Netherlands has provided four frigates to the Operation since 2008, including HNLMS Evertsen which is currently in command of this first EU maritime operation, until December 2009.

Through its participation in Operation Atalanta, the Netherlands has responded to the UN Security Council’s call to the international community in 2008 (resolutions 1814, 1816 and 1846) to take coordinated action off the coast of Somalia to safeguard humanitarian aid and combat piracy.



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