AMSTERDAM, SANA- The Netherlands has launched “operation Orange Shield” to protect next week’s NATO summit, deploying combat helicopters, sea patrols, over 10,000 military and police personnel, bomb squads and air defense systems.
About 6,000 delegates and leaders from 32 countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the closed-off event at The Hague’s World Forum.
The Dutch navy will deploy seven frigates as part of the country’s largest security operation.
“The aim is to observe everything that’s happening in the area, at sea, and in the air,” commander of the Tromp frigate Dennis Oorburg told Reuters.
Heads of state and ministers from NATO countries will arrive at Schiphol Airport on Monday and be escorted to The Hague via a secure highway corridor.
Protests are expected around the summit, including a planned highway blockade by Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and demonstrations against the war in Gaza and LGBTI+ hate speech. Police say protests will be allowed “within the limits of the law”.
From Reuters
Reem Safi/ Mazen
