Defence Secretary visits Netherlands, Germany and NATO Headquarters

By Samantha Allen

Published: January 27, 2022 | 10:52 AM GMT

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Germany and the Netherlands are great friends of the United Kingdom.

From my meetings with Ministers Ollongren and Lambrecht, and my discussions with Secretary Stoltenberg, I have no doubt that NATO is united in its determination to uphold European Security and that any further Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a strategic mistake met by swift and severe consequences.

After holding discussions with the Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren in the Hague, the Secretary of State travelled on to Brussels for talks with the Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod D. Wolters.

He then travelled to Berlin for his first visit since the formation of the new German government and the appointment of the new German defence minister, Christine Lambrecht. He was welcomed to the Defence Ministry by a military guard of honour before laying a wreath at the memorial.

The UK enjoys a close defence relationship with the Netherlands and Germany alike. The Netherlands is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force – 10 nations working together to deliver forces at high readiness, across a range of roles, complementing NATO and European security.

Germany’s Air Force, meanwhile, works with the Royal Air Force as part of NATO’s air policing missions, while UK personnel are deployed alongside German armed forces as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.