United Kingdom-Netherlands Enhanced Maritime Partnership.
The United Kingdom (UK) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands reaffirm the enduring strength of their defence partnership and their shared commitment to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. The relationship is built on the foundations of Europe's oldest integrated force, the 53-year-old UK-Netherlands Joint Amphibious Force. Grounded in a common commitment to NATO, International Law and European security, this partnership is a central pillar of both nations' approach to deterrence, defence and crisis response.
In an increasingly contested strategic environment, the UK and the Netherlands are committed to deepening defence cooperation in ways that strengthen Europe's contribution to collective security, bolster the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), and reinforce NATO's readiness and cohesion, in support of a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO. The 2025 UK/EU Security and Defence Partnership is also key in delivering this ambition. Our enhanced maritime partnership supports a more integrated and modern amphibious force, that strengthens the JEF and NATO's ability to respond to evolving conventional, hybrid and maritime threats, enhancing our deterrence and defence posture. Both nations recognise that there is now a unique opportunity to enhance our defence partnership around four fundamental pillars.
These pillars will enable both nations to co-develop cutting-edge UK and Dutch defence technology, utilising innovation to face emerging global threats reflecting our common priorities as JEF nations and shared contribution to NATO Regional Plan North West, including for amphibious reinforcement.
1. Strategic Alignment
This enhanced bilateral agenda sits within a wider shared strategic commitment. The UK and the Netherlands remain closely aligned in their support for Ukraine, including through military assistance, training initiatives and multinational cooperation. We will continue working together to sustain support to Ukraine and reinforce Europe's long-term commitment to its sovereignty and security.
Closer alignment between the UK and the Netherlands lends further credibility to the JEF, reinforcing our shared interests, threat perceptions, and commitment to the principles of mutual aid underpinning Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Through the JEF, shared capabilities are made available to a coalition of like-minded Northern European nations and reinforce NATO's regional deterrence, supporting a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.
Both nations also reaffirm the importance of continued coordination on maritime security in order to uphold freedom of navigation, contribute to regional stability, and demonstrate Alliance resolve in the face of evolving threats. Through NATO and the JEF, the UK and the Netherlands will continue to work together to strengthen deterrence, accelerate adaptation, and ensure that the Alliance remains united, capable and ready.
2. Joint Amphibious Transport Ship
The UK and the Netherlands agree that cooperation on the Amphibious Transport Ship (ATS) programme is the flagship bilateral project serving as a foundation for wider and deeper defence industrial collaboration, including on future maritime capabilities.
ATS represents an ambitious and practical means of strengthening an already deep maritime partnership and signalling a step change in bilateral defence integration. Both nations recognise that ATS offers a credible response to a shared amphibious challenge, and capability requirements are already aligned. A common platform will preserve and modernise amphibious and littoral lift capability, while enhancing interchangeability, readiness and the joint UK-Netherlands Specialised Advance Amphibious Force contribution to NATO.
Both nations also underline the wider strategic and industrial significance of this enhanced maritime agenda. A joint amphibious platform would not only strengthen military capability and interoperability, but also support respective defence industries, thereby reinforcing economic growth, sustaining sovereign and allied shipbuilding capability, and building long-term industrial resilience supporting highly skilled jobs and workforce in both nations.
3. UK-Netherlands Amphibious Task Force and Hybrid Navy Approach
The UK-Netherlands Amphibious Task Force represents NATO's high-readiness Advance Force, tasked to shape the littoral operating environment ahead of the arrival of larger NA
