Dutch Ministry of Defense Plans to Hire Private Companies for North Sea Surveillance
The Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to temporarily hire private companies for North Sea surveillance to counter Russian espionage threats. This initiative aims to monitor maritime activities and report suspicious situations to coast guards and naval forces. Belgium is informed of these developments as the two nations operate under a unified command. The outsourcing will be short-term, pending the launch of two multifunctional support ships by 2026. Recent incidents of damaged undersea cables have heightened concerns about Russian military strategies in the region.