Dutch Warship to Join New UK Aircraft Carrier in First Deployment - Statement
A Dutch warship will sail alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier when the UK ship first becomes operational in 2021, the UK government said on Wednesday.
LONDON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2018) A Dutch warship will sail alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier when the UK ship first becomes operational in 2021, the UK government said on Wednesday.
Later in the day, UK Prime Minister Theresa May will receive King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in London.
"The Netherlands will today (24 October) become one of the first nations to announce they intend to sail alongside the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier in her first deployment in 2021," the UK government said ahead of the meeting.
At the meeting, the prime minister will hail the Dutch-UK cooperation which is expected to continue after Brexit, the press release added.
"As we leave the European Union, we will continue to stand side by side to defend against threats to the global rules based system. As I welcome King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima today, I'm pleased to announce that the Dutch navy will be among the first nations to join the Carrier Strike Group as a sign of our ongoing cooperation," May is expected to say, as cited by the UK government statement.
At the European Council summit earlier in October, May and her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte agreed to strengthen cooperation both within NATO and in the bilateral format.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, capable of carrying up to 60 aircraft, began sea trials in 2017.