Press release

News item | 22-09-2023 | 12:31

The minister of Defense of The Netherlands, H.E. Kajsa Ollongren, will visit the United States of America, September 25-29. She will visit New York, Texas, Alabama and Virginia. The main purpose of the trip is to hold talks at the UN on peacekeeping missions and visit Dutch military personnel stationed in the US.

Minister Ollongren

First of all, minister Ollongren will give a lecture on “The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict” at Columbia Law School in New York City on Monday 25 September. Press are invited to attend this lecture at Columbia from 4.30-5.30PM. Afterwards, there is room for interviews with the minister on the topic of the lecture, as well as other topics, such as the (military) support to Ukraine; the F-16 coalition and training; the outcome of the recent Vilnius-summit and European security challenges. The next day the minister will engage in talks at the UN, primarily on peacekeeping missions.
 
On Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26 and 27, the minister will visit Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, where Dutch pilots are trained to become fighter pilots. On Wednesday, September 27 minister Ollongren will visit Air Force Plant 4, an aerospace facility in Fort Worth, Texas, operated by Lockheed Martin. It is home to the F-35 fighter aircraft.
 
The next day, the minister will travel on to Fort Novosel in Alabama, where Dutch airmen follow the Initial Entry Rotary Wing. This is the first training in the specialization as a helicopter pilot.
 
The visit will end with at Naval Station Norfolk, in Virginia. There, Ollongren will be hosted by the US Navy Fleet Forces Command and visit the NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) HQ.
 
Outline of the visit

September 25                        
New York, NY – 4.30-5.30PM: lecture at Columbia University on “The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”. 

September 26/27               
Sheppard AFB, TX – training location of Dutch fighter pilots/crew.

September 27                        
Ft. Worth, TX - Lockheed Martin production facilities.

September 28                       
Fort Novosel, AL – training location of Dutch helicopter pilots/crew.

September 29                      
Norfolk, VA – US Navy Fleet Forces Command & NATO Allied Command Transformation HQ.
 
Press inquiries
Feel free to contact the spokesperson of the minister, Mr. Laurens Bos, with any questions and interview requests. 

Contact
was-ppc@minbuza.nl