WILLEMSTAD - A significant milestone was celebrated this week aboard the patrol vessel HNLMS Groningen: the 30th anniversary of the close partnership between the United States and the Netherlands in combatting drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The commemoration took place in Key West, Florida, home to the headquarters of the Joint Inter Agency Task Force South. Within this U.S.-led organization, the Royal Netherlands Navy has played a pivotal role, deploying various units for anti-drug operations over the past three decades.
Walter Hansen, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean region, described the longstanding collaboration with the U.S. as akin to a "good marriage", stressing the importance of the 30th anniversary as a significant milestone. He highlighted that the return of the patrol vessel HNLMS Groningen to the Caribbean underscores Defense's commitment to maintaining peace and security in the area.