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Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe
Dutch soldiers work on vessel, off the coast of the Hague as Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolls in the background, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows a military vessel patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows military speedboat and Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A Dutch soldier with shoulder sleeve insigna of the upcoming 2025 NATO summit works in the control centre of Dutch frigate 'Tromp', Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands has launched operation Orange Shield to protect next week's NATO summit, deploying combat helicopters, sea patrols, over 10,000 military and police personnel, bomb squads and air defence systems. About 6,000 delegates and leaders from 32 countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the closed-off event at The Hague's World Forum. The Dutch navy will deploy seven frigates as part of the country's largest security operation. "The aim is to observe everything that's happening in the area, at sea, and in the air," commander of the Tromp frigate Dennis Oorburg told Reuters. Dutch counterterrorism chief Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg told Dutch broadcaster NOS that cybersecurity risks were also being closely monitored. Heads of state and ministers from NATO countries will arrive at Schiphol Airport on Monday and be escorted to The Hague via a secure highway corridor. On Tuesday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander will host a state dinner for NATO leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is set not to attend the summit, has also been invited to the dinner but has not yet confirmed his attendance. The summit officially begins on Wednesday, with NATO boss Mark Rutte aiming to get consensus from leaders on a 5% defence spending target, demanded by Trump. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has opposed the higher target. Protests are expected around the summit, including a planned highway blockade by Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and demonstrations against the war in Gaza and LGBTI+ hate speech. Police say protests will be allowed "within the limits of the law". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe
By Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart Biesemans Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe AMSTERDAM, - The Netherlands has launched operation Orange Shield to protect next week's NATO summit, deploying combat helicopters, sea patrols, over 10,000 military and police personnel, bomb squads and air defence systems. About 6,000 delegates and leaders from 32 countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the closed-off event at The Hague's World Forum. The Dutch navy will deploy seven frigates as part of the country's largest security operation. "The aim is to observe everything that's happening in the area, at sea, and in the air," commander of the Tromp frigate Dennis Oorburg told Reuters. Dutch counterterrorism chief Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg told Dutch broadcaster NOS that cybersecurity risks were also being closely monitored. Heads of state and ministers from NATO countries will arrive at Schiphol Airport on Monday and be escorted to The Hague via a secure highway corridor. On Tuesday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander will host a state dinner for NATO leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is set not to attend the summit, has also been invited to the dinner but has not yet confirmed his attendance. The summit officially begins on Wednesday, with NATO boss Mark Rutte aiming to get consensus from leaders on a 5% defence spending target, demanded by Trump. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has opposed the higher target. Protests are expected around the summit, including a planned highway blockade by Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and demonstrations against the war in Gaza and LGBTI hate speech. Police say protests will be allowed "within the limits of the law". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.