Dutch frigate arrives in Manila for Indo-Pacific drills
A Dutch frigate arrived in Manila on Friday for a goodwill visit aimed at deepening maritime cooperation with the Philippines and reinforcing freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
The HNLMS De Ruyter will be in the country from May 22 to May 24 as part of a five-month deployment, dubbed “Pacific Archer,” in the Indo-Pacific region for naval exercises with like-minded countries in the region. The frigate had just come from India for similar exercises.
Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts said the visit also marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands, which began on May 17, 1951
“I think the presence of the ship underlines our friendship and also underlines the importance we both attach to maritime security,” Geraedts told reporters at the Port of Manila.
The Dutch envoy also pointed to strong economic and maritime ties between the two countries, noting that more than 120 Dutch companies operate in the Philippines and that Filipino seafarers make up a significant share of crews in the Dutch commercial fleet.
Filipino crew
There are about 14,000 to 22,000 Filipinos in the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean islands, mostly seafarers on Dutch-flagged vessels.
“More than 40 percent of the seafarers and the Dutch commercial fleet are Filipino. The Dutch fleet could not sail without the Filipinos,” she said.
In a celebration in the Netherlands last March, Philippine Ambassador Eduardo Malaya thanked the Netherlands for its consistent investments in the country.
Malaya said that over the last 12 years, Dutch investors contributed P755 billion (€12 billion) to the Philippines, making the Netherlands a top source of foreign investments.
When asked about possible long-term defense arrangements, the Dutch envoy also said the Netherlands is open to expanding defense cooperation with the Philippines, including exploring “all options” for deeper engagement, as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
“We are considering all options,” she said when asked about maritime cooperation. “Stability and security in this region is also important for the Netherlands.”
The De Ruyter’s commander, Capt. Roger de Wit said the deployment reflects the Netherlands’ commitment to protecting global sea lanes critical to European trade.
“A lot of freight goes through this area to Europe, so stability and freedom of navigation in this area is really important for the Netherlands,” he said.
During the visit, the Dutch crew will engage with about 150 Philippine naval cadets through ship tours and briefings on naval operations. The frigate will also take part in a bilateral exercise with a Philippine Navy vessel, focusing on communications and maneuvering to test interoperability.
De Wit said the exercises offer valuable experience for the Dutch Navy operating in a different environment.
