Defense Minister Ollongren has promised that the Netherlands will supply two minesweepers to Ukraine. Ollongren has also promised radar systems and an amphibious vehicle to build bridges. According to Clingendael Institute defense specialist Dick Zandee, this is “yet another package”.
Building bridges
Minister Ollongren visited the city of Mykolaev in southern Ukraine near the Black Sea. According to Zandee, the provision of material support fits the visit. «One day the Ukrainians will have to cross the Dnieper River again, but then all the bridges will have been torn down by the Russians or by the Ukrainians themselves. So if you’re going to go any further, you’re going to need that kind of equipment.’
The promised amphibious vehicle is a vehicle that can drive on water and thus open bridges that you can build together, Zandee says. ‘Then you get an artificial bridge and then you can reach the other side with tanks or other vehicles. This is temporary until permanent bridges can be built.’
Delivery late
Another part of the support package includes minehunters. However, they will not be delivered until 2025. According to the defense specialist, this delay in delivery has a number of reasons. ‘First of all, we can’t just supply them because Ukrainian personnel will have to be trained for that. Second, we can’t get rid of them ourselves now because we don’t have that many. So we have to wait for the replacement system and that will arrive in 2025.’
“The risk of being involved in a war is a red line we don’t want to cross”
According to Zandee, the third reason is that if deliveries are made now, they will be delivered with Dutch personnel. “Then, of course, you run the risk of getting involved in the war. This is a red line that we don’t want to cross.’ These reasons then ensure that there is a delay in the delivery of mine hunters. The defense expert argues that it is good to anticipate the future situation now. “One day those mines will have to be cleared and then that capacity will be very usable.”
Zandee thinks the promised radar systems can be deployed immediately. Although drone defense is a part of the Dutch air defense that is still under construction. Air defense systems are usually built against aircraft and missiles. Now suddenly we have those low-flying drones, so stuff that’s already been bought from the Netherlands and people are experimenting with can be delivered pretty quickly. Ukraine also needs it badly.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
