THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD - The highest-ranking military officer within the Ministry of Defence, the Commander of the Armed Forces, General Onno Eichelsheim, recently paid a working visit to Defence operations in the Caribbean Region. During this visit, General Eichelsheim visited various units and barracks.
General Onno Eichelsheim (left)
On Curaçao, the Commander of the Armed Forces visited the Parera Naval Base, the Hato Coast Guard Support Centre, and the Suffissant Naval Barracks. There, he spoke with Curaçaoan military personnel and members of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. During his visit to Aruba, General Eichelsheim visited the Savaneta Marine Barracks and boarded the station ship HNLMS Friesland for the annual 'relations at sea' day.
General Eichelsheim spoke with military personnel amongst other things, about topics including their contribution to counter-narcotics operations and the support provided to local police and authorities.
A region in flux
According to the General, the Caribbean is always a 'region in flux.' "The Caribbean part of the Kingdom never stands still. Together with local authorities, our colleagues from the Navy, the Army, and the Marechaussee, are deployabley every single day for the safety of the islands. Counter-narcotics operations, emergency relief efforts, and support for local authorities are key tasks for Defence in the Caribbean Region. Beyond these routine responsibilities, the region has also had to contend with tensions between the United States and Venezuela over the past year. Our military personnel here then played a vital role in building a picture of the situation and, above all, in protecting the islands. I have great appreciation for that. Ultimately, by working together, we keep the islands safe—regardless of the nature of the threat."
The Dutch government is investing in Defence to ensure that the armed forces are prepared to keep the Kingdom and its allies safe. For the Caribbean region, this includes also investments in areas such as radar systems, counter-drone measures, increased flight hours for the Coast Guard, and the permanent presence of a Marine unit. Furthermore, Defence is making additional investments in the equipment, weaponry, and infrastructure of the Caribbean-based military forces (CARMIL), which play a vital role in regional security.