Netherlands to deploy naval ship to mission in Persian Gulf: report

The Netherlands will contribute to a mission to protect the important oil shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. A navy ship will be deployed to the Persian Gulf for six months, to take part in a mission led by France that is set to start in January, sources in The Hague confirmed to RTL Nieuws after reports by ANP.

The mission is expected to cost between 10 million and 15 million euros. The Netherland's role will mainly be an 'observing' one, according to the broadcaster's sources. The mission's headquarters will be a French naval base in Abu Dhabi.

In the summer the Netherlands already indicated that it would like to agree to an American request for assistance in the region, but only if the mission is carried out in a European context and as long as the Netherlands is not drawn into the American conflict with Iran.

The mission can include up to ten European and non-European countries. So far the Netherlands, France and Denmark are in, according to RTL.