The Dutch military is closely monitoring the movements of Russian military vessels in the North Sea after one of Russia's submarines passed near Dutch territorial waters.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Russian ships 'Novosibirsk' and 'Yakob Grebensky' were escorted from the Mediterranean Sea. They were first attended to by a British warship in the English Channel, and then intercepted by a Dutch frigate along with a helicopter.
The Netherlands escorts all Russian military vessels through its economic zone, despite international law regarding peaceful passage. The Ministry of Defense explained that this is done to protect underwater infrastructure from potential threats.
The department emphasized that this demonstrates both unwavering attention to the situation and readiness to prevent any attempts to destabilize the region.
Control over Russian military ships in the North Sea underscores the seriousness of the situation and the necessity to protect national interests within their own economic zone. The Netherlands is actively taking measures to monitor and ensure safety in open waters.