Declaration of Intent

between

the Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany

and

the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

on the

further Enhancement of Bilateral Relations in the Field of Defence

The Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany
and
the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

hereinafter referred to as the “sides”,

resolved to promote international stability and to secure peace in the spirit of the Charter of
the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty and the Treaty on the European Union

having regard to:
•

the Declaration of Intent between the Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic
of Germany and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on a New
Approach towards Bilateral Defence Cooperation, June 19th 2002;

•

the German-Netherlands Common Army Vision on Future Cooperation, April 6th 2005;

•

the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Defence of the
Federal Republic of Germany and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands concerning defence materiel cooperation, August 29th 2006;

•

the Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the
Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on bilateral defence cooperation,
November 8th 2006;

•

the Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany
concerning the Cooperation of the Armed Forces in the Field of Training, October 2nd
2008;

•

the Letter of Intent between the Commander of the German Army and the Commander of
the Royal Netherlands Army on Intensified Army Cooperation, July 12th 2012;

welcome the very positive development in recent years of the traditionally excellent and
friendly relations between Germany and the Netherlands. Both sides share the understanding
that this Declaration of Intent will highlight and confirm their existing excellent relations and
provide a sound basis for the even further enhancement of the German-Netherlands
cooperation in the future.

2

The enhancement of German-Netherlands cooperation will comprise security, defence and
armaments policy aspects, in order to represent common interests in an international
environment in a coordinated, efficient and effective manner, including practical military
cooperation between the Services. Furthermore, cooperation will be broadened in the areas of
capabilities as well as operations, joint exercises and training. Bearing in mind that today’s
security challenges can be tackled more effectively when working together, both sides
explicitly welcome cooperation with additional partners.

Security, Defence and Armaments Policy
Both sides share common interests and values. These will remain the firm basis of their
bilateral relations and be at the core of their enhanced cooperation in the future. Both sides
intend to further strengthen the ability of NATO and the European Union to take action in
matters of security, defence and armaments policy.
A vital condition for successful, viable and results-oriented German-Netherlands cooperation
is a mutual understanding between partners and a shared view of the strategic challenges.
Only on this foundation, will both sides succeed in defining common objectives, developing
joint courses of action and identifying the required assets and capabilities.
Both sides will identify, discuss and strive for a common understanding of defence-related
strategic and policy issues of common interest. They therefore intend to maintain close
relations at defence ministers’ level and to continue their semi-annual bilateral security policy
talks at Policy Directors’ level (High Level Steering Group).

Cooperation on Capabilities
Multinational approaches as well as Pooling & Sharing are key instruments in closing
capability gaps and in ensuring the provision of adequate military capabilities. Both sides
strongly support the EU and NATO initiatives currently being pursued. The two sides
underline that closer cooperation will improve efficiency in the area of capability
development, thus creating a long-term advantage for both countries. All possibilities for
bilateral cooperation will be exploited, within all areas of concept & capability development,
command and control, combat as well as combat support and combat service support. Further
progress must be made towards harmonizing the common analysis of future national
capability needs. Both sides will additionally strive for an optimum resource allocation and
cost-efficiency in all defence-related areas. Both sides will meet frequently at ministerial level
to coordinate plans and to investigate new initiatives for cooperation on capabilities.
3

An enhanced cooperation and capability development is to be supported by military research
and technology, defence procurement and the logistic support for all systems of interest. To
strengthen cooperation on capability development, the National Capability Directors will meet
when required. To strengthen armaments cooperation, the National Armaments Directors will
meet every six months, moreover, a steering committee will be established for current
activities.

Operations, Joint Exercises and Training
Past combined efforts of the German and Netherlands armed forces include operations in
Kosovo

(KFOR),

in

Afghanistan

(ISAF

including

two

rotations

of

the

1 (German/Netherlands) Corps as ISAF HQ, PRT and the Police Training Mission in
Kunduz), off the Horn of Africa (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) and in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (EUFOR). Of recent date is the cooperation in the PATRIOT
deployment to Turkey (ACTIVE FENCE/ANATOLIAN PROTECTOR). In view of their
many commonalities in their strategic and operational approach to multinational operations,
both sides declare their willingness to intensify all possibilities for cooperation, particularly in
future operations.
Combined joint training and exercises as well as the mutual exchange of innovative plans and
products, knowledge and lessons learned will substantially improve mutual understanding
between the Armies, Navies and Air Forces, as well as the Medical Services, contribute
towards enhanced interoperability during joint UN, NATO or EU-led operations and
ultimately increase the effectiveness of both sides’ armed forces. In this context, particular
attention will be paid to common planning, preparations and pre-deployment training and
exercises in case their forces are engaged in operations where multinational interaction and
cooperation at operational and tactical level is required. Both nations intend to enhance the
use of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps as platform for combined training as well as the leading
command and control element for multinational operations. Furthermore, the integration of
11 (Netherlands) Airmobile Brigade (11(NLD) LMB) into the German Division Schnelle
Kräfte (DEU DSK) by January 2014 will enhance interoperability and common planning,
preparations and pre-deployment training.
The permanent posting of exchange officers at MoD level and at headquarters as well as the
exchange of personnel in their national units and of instructors and students/cadets at military
educational institutions are well-established procedures and extremely valuable in underlining

4

the willingness to integrate. Both sides are prepared to examine further possibilities to
exchange personnel.
Both sides express their desire to continue the established cooperation in operations, joint
exercises and training. In order to coordinate, facilitate and further develop this cooperation,
both sides agree that their Armies, Navies and Air Forces as well as Medical Services will
continue to conduct their staff talks and explore opportunities for establishing more
permanent forms of cooperation and deeper integration. These efforts should take into account
the potential of integrated command and control structures on a permanent basis to ensure
unity of command in operations and exercises. At Service level, units could be placed under
common operational command and be deeply integrated on a permanent basis while
remaining stationed at their peace-time locations.

Conclusion
Being firmly convinced that the further enhancement of their cooperation will contribute to
improving their joint response to future challenges and threats and have a positive impact on
European Security and Defence, the two sides declare their intent to:
•

continue the mutually beneficial, professional and friendly partnership in the interest
of both countries and,

• further enhance cooperation at ministerial level as well as between the armed forces
regarding Security, Defence and Armaments Policy, Cooperation on Capabilities and
Cooperation on Operations, Joint Exercises and Training, based on a reciprocal
examination of opportunities and areas that are of mutual interest.

Roadmap
Following this firm commitment to further expand and deepen their cooperation in the
defence field both sides agree on a roadmap of energetic steps to achieve tangible results. This
roadmap, attached as an annex to this declaration, will be regarded as a living, non-limitative
document, serving to evaluate the status and progress of the German-Netherlands cooperation
in the field of defence at ministerial level.

5

Signed in duplicate at

on

.

Dr. Thomas de Maizière

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

Federal Minister of Defence

Minister of Defence

of the Federal Republic of Germany

of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

6

Annex:
Roadmap for the Further Enhancement of the Bilateral Relations in the Field of Defence

Goals:
A. Intensify the German-Netherlands defence cooperation, considering the necessity to
identify new options by frequent consultations in flexible, effective and efficient formats,
enhance coordination and monitoring of the various cooperation projects and include
aspects of operations as well as planning and concept development;
B. Develop a shared view on the strategic challenges in order to define our ambitions in the
field of Security, Defence and Armaments Policy;
C. Strive for harmonization of defence planning processes in general.

In addition to the enhancement of cooperation activities at ministerial level, as described in
the declaration and the goals above, the following non-exhaustive overview identifies further
areas of intensified cooperation – in particular at Service level:
Cooperation on Capabilities Projects:
All of the following topics are already integrated in Army, Navy or Air Force cooperation, but
the involvement of MoD Plans and Policy Directorates as well as defence materiel
organisations is needed to support decision-making. This paragraph also mentions fields of
cooperation that cannot be attributed to one single inter-Service cooperation, as a result of the
diverging task assignment within the DEU and NLD Armed Forces.
•

Maintenance of ground-based systems. DEU and NLD use similar ground-based systems,
such as the Boxer, Fennek and PzH 2000. It is worthwhile investigating possibilities for
cooperation in the fields of maintenance and logistics for these systems. As for
procurement, maintenance and phase-out of Army equipment, common interests and
approaches should be investigated in an early stage of the process;

•

DEU and NLD are both partners in the NH-90 programme and already work together
within the established agencies. Possibilities of strengthening cooperation in the field of
maintenance, education and training should be developed. If DEU decides to procure the
NFH version of the NH-90, a trilateral cooperation with Belgium, for instance on common
spare part pooling and management might be beneficial;

•

DEU and NLD are both in the preparation phase for procurement of a MALE UAV. If
both countries decide to acquire the same UAV system, this will create several
opportunities for materiel cooperation, which can be exploited. In addition, other forms of
7

cooperation in the field of UAVs, such as education, training and operational use, will be
possible;
•

DEU and NLD both have expertise in designing and building submarines. Shared
knowledge and expertise can be used for the design and development of a new class of
submarines for both countries;

•

Replacement of Mine Countermeasures capability. Together with Belgium, knowledge
acquisition and sharing, in the field of mine countermeasures in order to investigate
common replacement of MCM capabilities;

•

Development of a (sea-based) Missile Defence Capability on the basis of the SMART-L
Radar;

•

Combined procurement and stockpiling of supporting equipment and clothing.

Army cooperation:
•

Development of 1 (German-Netherlands) Corps in Münster into a Joint Task Force
Headquarters Land (JTF HQ L)/Joint Command and Control Capability (JC2C).
Furthermore,

both

nations

should

evaluate

the

possibility

of

providing

1 (German/Netherlands) Corps as a JTF HQ (L)/JC2C to NATO’s Long-Term Rotation
Plan (LTRP) in the future.
•

The DEU-NLD Common Army Vision on Future Cooperation of April 6th 2005 is the
basis for cooperation between the two Armies. DEU-NLD Army staff talks take place as
Army Steering Group (ASG) meetings at least twice a year. The ASG identifies new
opportunities for cooperation and coordinates and monitors the execution of cooperation
initiatives. The recent new initiatives and studies (Project Griffin) to intensify the DEUNLD Army cooperation will be the main priority of the DEU-NLD ASG for the upcoming
years. Promising supervised initiatives are investigated with highest priority. Currently
existing fields of cooperation - mainly training and exercises - will be deepened where
possible.

•

Prioritized initiatives are:
Development of a bi-national DEU-NLD Fire Support unit (FOC within 3-5
years);
Common Joint Fire Support training;
Integration of 11(NLD) LMB (ground component) into DEU DSK (January 2014);
Training of NLD units with DEU tank units;

8

Intensification of DEU-NLD Training & Exercise including UN Training and Para
Training & Exercises.
•

The intent of the ASG is to bring forward implementation proposals to the Chiefs of Staff
of the Armies no later than June 2013. Agreed proposals for short-term implementation
(2013-2014) will be forwarded to the High-Level Steering Group for approval at
ministerial level.

•

Fields for medium and long-term (Army) feasibility studies are: common logistic support,
logistic role specialization, CIS interoperability, officer and NCO training, common Army
vision on land warfare, common doctrine on land warfare, NLD participation in DEU
division staffs, attachment of units to 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps, development of
common organizational structures (support), cooperation in Electronic Warfare,
engineering and C-IED.

Air Force cooperation:
•

Further integration within the EATC.

•

Continue the intensification of bilateral cooperation on Ground Based Air and Missile
Defence (GBA&MD) between DEU Air Force and NLD Army, as defined in the Terms of
Reference of the bi-national project group.

•

Intensify the existing GBA&MD cooperation by
Strengthening the cooperation in the areas of operations, logistics and training;
Embedding individual NLD GBA&MD experts into DEU GBA&MD Wing 1
“Schleswig-Holstein” in 2014;
Common further development of GBA&MD tactical firing exercises;
Aiming at developing a common mission-oriented (not standing) binational
GBA&MD unit.

•

Cooperation on helicopter capabilities (cross-Service DEU and NLD Armies and Air
Forces):
DEU Participation in the NLD Helicopter Weapons Instructor Course (HWIC);
Cooperation in the field of Helicopter Underslung Loads Equipment (HUSLE) and
Underslung Load Clearance (ULC);
Contribution to the integration of 11(NLD) LMB (ground component) into DEU
DSK (January 2014);
Mutual participation in certification exercises, when both countries contribute to
the same operational readiness unit (IRF/NRF or EUBG).
9

•

Cooperation in the field of Space Situational Awareness;

•

Development of combined Survive, Evade, Resist & Extract (SERE) training and
education, together with Belgium.

Navy cooperation:
Widening and intensifying the existing cooperation between the DEU and NLD Navies on a
broad basis, such as:
•

Education & Training: PWO Course, Air Defence Course, Very Shallow Water
Operations (via CoE CSW at Kiel and MBS Eguermin at Oostende);

•

Shipbuilding & Design: sharing of knowledge and expertise with regard to feasibility,
operational concepts, design and procurement studies on new weapon systems;

•

Exchange of personnel on board operational units;

•

Sharing of Lessons Identified/Learned from operations.

In order to expand and deepen the cooperation between both navies, bilateral working groups
will be established concerning:
•

Sharing of knowledge and capabilities in replenishment, seabasing and amphibious
operations;

•

Establishment of a multinational Submarine Command during Operations, Training,
Education and Logistics;

•

Sharing of training facilities and capabilities (i.e. Helicopter Controller Training,
Submarine Training Centre);

•

Co-ordination of annual Operational Programming of assets;

•

Shared development of naval doctrine;

•

Exchange of information and mutual support regarding the development of a maritime
Ballistic Missile Defence capability;

•

Exchange of knowledge and experience on the use of UAVs on board naval units;

•

Medical Service: cooperation of Medical Teams during operations (i.e. ATALANTA).

Cooperation between Medical Services:
•

Development of a modular Role 2/3 facility, based on the Smart Defence project 1.15 and
further development of a Trauma Registry System from point of wounding until final
treatment, based on the NATO Trauma Registry software, available since November
2012.

•

Continuation of the training of bi-national medevac crews in the EATC cooperation;
10

•

Pre-deployment training for bi-national medical teams or units to be deployed;

•

NLD contribution to further development of DEU education and training approach
(including observer/trainer system);

•

Explore opportunities for the mutual use of training facilities;

•

Exchange of information: continue exchange of information and experience in the field of
Mil Mental Healthcare, Rehabilitation, quality control systems and MEDINT;

•

Investigate sustainable provision of primary healthcare for military personnel of
1 (German/Netherlands) Corps in Münster;

Cooperation DEU Streitkräftebasis and NLD Command Service Centre:
•

Intensification of cooperation between NLD Defence Academy (NLDA) and
Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (FüAkBw) as well as exchange of lecturers at the
DEU and NLD General Staff Courses.

•

Reciprocal examination of opportunities in the fields of ISTAR, CBRN and C-RAM is of
mutual interest for both armed forces.

•

Intensification of cooperation with regard to training in CBRN Defence. Investigation of
options for mutual CBRN Defence capability development and CBRN Defence units.

•

Further exploration of options to enhance the NATO CIMIC capability development
through close cooperation of the CCOE framework nations DEU and NLD. Investigation
of the possibility for setting up DEU-NLD CIMIC formations at tactical level and to
conduct common training.

11