British, French and Dutch join forces to assist Covid-19 response in the Caribbean

The British, French and Dutch Armed Forces have joined together to coordinate Covid-19 response activities in the Caribbean. The three countries have established a military coordination cell designed to ‘to bolster support to overseas territories’.

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: “France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have decided to join efforts in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis currently affecting their overseas territories. In order to help relieve local populations, they decided to bring a coordinated military answer in support of civilian crisis management tools.”

In response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, the UK, France and Netherlands dispatched the RFA Argus, PHA Dixmude, and HNLMS Karel Doorman to the region respectively.

The MOD added: “Inspired by lessons drawn from their military cooperation during Hurricane Irma in 2017, as well as discussions in EI2 format, the three nations intend to benefit from this experience by better coordinating their actions in a spirit of mutual support and European solidarity.”