STATEMENT Of INTENT
BETWEEN THE MINISTER FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
AND THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS ON
STRENGTHENING THE STRATEGIC DEFENCE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO
MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE

The Minister for the Armed Forces of the French Republic
And
The Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

Strategic and political framework
1. Considering the changing security environment of Europe and the new geopolitical context;
2. Considering the common participation of the French Republic and the Kingdom of the
Netherlands in the EU, NATO, the UN and OSCE, as well as the common wish to enhance
bilateral defence initiatives in order to strengthen European Defence;
3. Considering the excellent defence cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and
the French Republic;
4. Considering that this cooperation will necessarily have to be strengthened in view of the
changing international context and the specific interests of both States;
5. Considering that two agreernents are being drafted:
on the bilateral defence cooperation, in order to bring together under a single legal document
all the already existing fields of military cooperation on the metropolitan territories of both
States,
on the defence cooperation and the status of the armed forces in the territories in the
Caribbean and South America of the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
—

—

Structure of the strengthening of defence cooperation
6. Wish to further strengthen the defence cooperation between the French Republic and the
Kingdom of the Netherlands through a strategic partnership in order to best secure the common
interests of both States in defence-related areas;
7. Believe that this common wish will have to be reflected in the preamble to the draft agreement
on bilateral defence cooperation being negotiated between the two States;
8. Consider that this Statement of lntent will serve as a guideline to ministerial departments of
both States, by listing, non-exhaustively, the fields in which a strengthening of cooperation
between both States is foreseen;

9. Acknowledge that this strategie partnership cannot be properly implemented without regular
high-level political and military meetings, and that the following authorities tvill meet as
follows:
a. a ministerial meeting at least once a year;
b. a meeting between defence policy directorates in principle twice a year;
c. a meeting between the national arrnaments directors at least once a year;
d. a meeting between the capability ditectors at least once a year.
Fields in which defence cooperation might be strengthened

1 0. Fields in which defence cooperation might be strengthened may be those listed in point 11. This
list is by no nieans exhaustive. Each field may be the subject of specific provisions in the
Agreernent on bilateral defence cooperation, ifnecessary.
11. Fields in which it is desirable to strengthen and/or pursue cooperation include:
a. cooperation prior to combined missions and operations, in the framework of the EU,
NATO, the UN or ad hoc coalitions;
b. cooperation in combined missions and operations, in the framework of the EU, NATO,
the UN or ad hoc coalitions. including areas of common interest in which the EU, NATO
or UN do not specifically operate;
c. capability cooperation. by endeavouring to significantly increase the interoperability
between armed forces of both States;
d. armament cooperation. including innovation, Research&Developrnent, and development
of weapons systems. soldier protection and support, and their support on duty; the
intensifying cooperation in this field will preferably be supported by the opportunities
offered by the European Defence fund;
e. cooperation in land, naval, air and Special Operations Forces domains;
f development of common positions, where possible, in the EU, NATO, the UN and other
relevant organisations;
g. further development of the EU-NATO cooperation;
h. cooperation within the European Intervention Initiative, in which the French Republic
and the Kingdom of the Netherlands play a driving rote, working towards a common
strategic culture, especially in those areas in which both States share a common interest;
i. arrns control, notably in the framework of activities conducted within NATO;
j. cooperation on strategie intelligence;
k. information exchanges and synergy development (e. g. in human resources);
1. staff exchanges;
m. war-wounded veterans meetings.

12. Agree that this Staternent of Intent does not constitute a commitment to fund or participate
in this cooperation. nor a legalty binding commitment between the signatories under either
national or international law.
Signed in Eindhoven on 6 May 2019.

Kingdom of the Netherlands

H.E. Florence Parly
Minister for the Armed Forces
of the French Republic