JOINT PRESS RELEASE – MINSTÈRE DES ARMÉES (France) – MINISTERIE VAN DEFENSIE (Nederland) – MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (United-Kingdom)
French, British and Dutch armed forces are deploying military assets in the Caribbean to support their local authorities. As a result, French PHA Dixmude, British RFA Argus and Dutch HNLMS Karel Doorman have been sent to the Caribbean.
This cooperation will be operated by a regional military joint coordination cell which will be located in Fort de France (Martinique, France). Its mission will be to optimize national military contributions to support States’ action. This mechanism should provide more agility and flexibility in the response to the spread of the virus throughout the Caribbean.
Inspired by lessons drawn from their military cooperation during hurricane Irma in 2017, as well as discussions in EI2 format, the three nations intend to benefit from this experience by better coordinating their actions in a spirit of mutual support and European solidarity.
[#Résilience] Après 14 jours en mer, le PHA Dixmude arrive dans la zone Antilles-Guyane pour aider les populations et les autorités civiles dans la gestion de la crise du #COVID19.
— État-Major Armées (@EtatMajorFR) April 17, 2020
Sa mission : renforcer le dispositif logistique et sanitaire des Forces Armées aux Antilles-Guyane. pic.twitter.com/H5r3xC7778
Bermuda recce. 845 NAS Merlins and @815NAS's Wildcat on @RFAArgus have completed crucial information-gathering patrols over Bermuda ahead of the coming hurricane season.
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) April 15, 2020
The #RoyalNavy aviators also trained with the Bermudan coastguard.
🔗Read more: https://t.co/D4dRGqrFKg pic.twitter.com/jydbcD6iXn
https://t.co/JJ5CCX3Kc5. Karel Doorman is onderweg naar het Caribisch gebied om de lokale autoriteiten direct te kunnen ondersteunen in de coronacrisis wanneer de situatie daar om vraagt. #caribsupport #defensie #covid19 pic.twitter.com/rtBwQCiV6X
— Koninklijke Marine (@kon_marine) April 20, 2020