WILLEMSTAD - Vice Admiral Tas, Commander of the Navy (C-ZSK), and Commander Walter Hansen, also Director of the Caribbean Coast Guard, signed the renewed covenant between the Ministry of Defense and the Coast Guard in the Caribbean on Monday. This was announced by the Caribbean Defense Ministry on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defense is represented in the renewed covenant by the Commander of the Navy. This covenant, updated every three years, regulates mutual support and cooperation agreements between both organizations.
The covenant is designed to legally formalize and facilitate cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Coast Guard. It outlines the provision of support services in the Caribbean by various units of the Naval Command (CZSK) and other defense components. It also details procedures for addressing and resolving issues related to mutual support.
While the Coast Guard operates independently, according to the Caribbean Defense Ministry, it receives extensive support from Defense and is considered an integral part of CZSK. Defense personnel are regularly seconded for specific roles, and Defense's station ship, including its onboard helicopter, are systematically deployed for coast guard operations. Conversely, Defense can utilize Coast Guard units, such as the coast guard aircraft. This collaboration has proven particularly effective in combating drug trafficking by sea.