The Cabinet Secretary for Defence Hon. Aden Duale held bilateral discussions with the Vice Minister and Director General for Political Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mr. Marcel de Vink. The Vice Minister paid him a courtesy call at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi.
In his remarks, the CS noted that Netherlands and Kenya enjoy warm cordial relations spanning many years which continue to broaden strategic collaborations in various sectors among them shipbuilding technologies.
Hon. Duale observed that, despite there being no formal framework of cooperation in the defence domain between the two States, Netherlands has been a strategic and indispensable partner to Kenya by supporting training at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Karen, Nairobi. Hon. Duale further acknowledged the support that the Netherlands Government has rendered as a friend of East African Standby Force (EASF).
He added that, through M/s Damen Company, which is based in the Netherlands, Kenya is keen to tap into the shipbuilding skills and expertise to not only enhance maritime security but also leverage the fortunes of the Blue Economy.
The CS revealed that efforts to have a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) are at advanced stages. He added that once approved and ratified, the framework shall enable the two countries to engage more in military training, maritime security, research and development, and military exchanges among others.
During the discussions, the CS was accompanied by Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF) Lieutenant General Jonah Mwangi, and the Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Defence Headquarters Brigadier Richard Mwanzia.
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