On March 15th, the Ministry of Defense escorted 2 Russian military ships during their passage through the Dutch part of the North Sea. The air defense and command frigate Tromp and an NH90 helicopter of the Defense Helicopter Command deployed.
It concerned a Russian task group, consisting of the frigate Admiral Kasatonov and the tanker Akademik Pashin. Belgian patrol ship Castor had previously escorted the ships. Trump then took over that task.
Subsequently, Tromp handed over escort to the British frigate HMS Montrose . The Russian ships are from the Mediterranean and are expected to be on their way to their home base in Russia.
The Royal Netherlands Navy routinely carries out the escorting of warships in the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is to protect Dutch territory and to discourage malicious activities.