Dutch air-defence frigate joins French carrier strike group in eastern Mediterranean

THE HAGUE, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government confirmed on Monday that the Netherlands has decided to deploy an air-defence and command frigate and its crew to the eastern Mediterranean on a defensive mission lasting until early April.

In a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Defence Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius said the deployment aims to contribute to regional stability and security, particularly the safety of EU member states, NATO allies, regional partners and Dutch nationals in the region.

"Together with our allies, we are thus strengthening European security," the defense minister posted on the social media platform X on Monday.

The Dutch air-defence and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen has been operating alongside the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle since Feb. 4 as part of a carrier strike group. France formally asked the Netherlands last week to extend its support for the group, with details of the mission agreed in recent days.

According to the letter, in addition to protecting allied territory, the frigate will help safeguard other naval vessels in the region, particularly the Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying ships.

The Dutch government also emphasized that the deployment is geographically limited to the eastern Mediterranean. At the tactical level, operational command will rest with the Charles de Gaulle as flagship, while Dutch authorities retain full national command over the Evertsen.

Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that the Evertsen can detect aerial threats such as drones at a very early stage, allowing rapid warnings about where projectiles might land. The frigate is also capable of intercepting drones.

Around 170 personnel serve on board the ship. The Royal Netherlands Navy operates four air-defence and command frigates of this type. ■