The UK and the Netherlands have signed a new maritime partnership that will see British and Dutch forces equipped with a new class of amphibious transport ships, while providing a significant boost to UK shipbuilding and defence industry capability.
Announced on 7 July during a meeting of NATO leaders in Ankara, the agreement paves the way for the delivery of next-generation amphibious vessels based on a Dutch design and constructed in UK shipyards in partnership with Dutch industry. The £2.4 billion programme is expected to support hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the UK.
The new vessels will form the core of an enhanced UK-Netherlands amphibious force, with each nation operating four ships. Measuring 160m in length and displacing 15,000 tonnes, the ships will be designed to transport troops, vehicles and equipment, including drones, wherever required.
Their flight decks will be capable of supporting both current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, reflecting the Royal Navy’s ongoing transition towards a hybrid fleet that combines conventional platforms with uncrewed technologies.
The agreement also strengthens industrial and military cooperation between the two nations in the development of autonomous and uncrewed systems, with both governments aiming to maintain an advantage against emerging threats while supporting their respective defence sectors.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This partnership is not just about building ships, it is also about delivering long term security for both the UK and The Netherlands, ensuring we are able to stay ahead of the threats of tomorrow.
“Combining the UK’s industrial expertise with The Netherlands’ design and sea-faring experience to deliver first-rate platforms for our elite amphibious forces, this partnership will strengthen NATO.
“I am incredibly proud that British shipyards will help deliver these ships, creating and sustaining good jobs here at home in the UK.”
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said the programme would further deepen a long-standing military relationship between the two nations.
“We are building an even stronger amphibious force with the Netherlands, strengthening our defence and deterrence as close NATO allies and JEF partners,” he said.
“Our forces will operate the same equipment and deploy on exercises together, so if they need to, we can fight and win together. In close partnership, we are responding to the threats we face to make our nations and Europe safer.”
The partnership builds on more than 50 years of cooperation through the UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force, regarded as Europe’s longest-running integrated military force. Under the new arrangements, the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy are expected to increase joint training, deployments and operational activity, while enhancing NATO’s ability to respond rapidly to emerging crises.
Operating a common amphibious transport ship is seen as a key step in improving interoperability between the two navies, as well as enabling future collaboration on drone and autonomous technologies.
The agreement also reflects broader cooperation between the UK and its northern European allies on maritime security. As members of NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force, the UK and the Netherlands have pledged to work closely to protect critical undersea infrastructure and deter threats in the North Atlantic and High North, while continuing support for Ukraine.
The announcement follows the recent UK-Norway agreement covering the delivery of five Type 26 frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, a programme that is expected to support around 4,000 jobs in the UK.
It also aligns with the UK Government’s wider Defence Investment Plan, which includes substantial investment in the Royal Navy’s future hybrid fleet, combining advanced warships with autonomous surface and undersea systems to create a more technologically capable force.
Pic: Royal Navy HMS Albion operating with Dutch Royal Marines
Photo: LA(Phot) Dan Hooper/MOD