The Netherlands says it can ship Patriot support to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte He mentioned on Tuesday that his nation plans to “be part of” efforts by the US and Germany to coach and arm Ukraine with superior Patriot protection programs.

Rutte signaled Holland’s intentions firstly of a gathering on the White Home with President Joe Biden. The Dutch protection ministry mentioned Rutte’s announcement got here after Ukraine requested the Netherlands to supply a “Patriot functionality”.

“We’ve the intention to hitch what you’re doing with Germany on Venture Patriot,” Root advised Biden. “I feel it’s essential that we take part on that.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in his night tackle that the Netherlands had agreed to ship a Patriot battery to Ukraine. “So, now there are three assured batteries. However that is solely the start. We’re engaged on new options to strengthen our air protection,” Zelensky mentioned.

Rutte, who mentioned he additionally spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz On Tuesday about potential assist, he was extra obscure about compliance in his public feedback. He advised Dutch broadcaster NOS that his authorities was in talks about precisely what it may contribute. Based on the Ministry of Protection, the Dutch military has 4 Patriot programs, one in every of which isn’t in service.

“The thought isn’t just the coaching, but additionally the tools,” Rutte advised NOS. He added that the Dutch navy is now reviewing “what precisely we’ve got, and the way can we make certain it really works nicely with the American and German programs”.

He added throughout a discussion board at Georgetown College that the choice was an acknowledgment that “all of us need to do extra” with Ukraine’s entry essential stage within the conflict.

Rutte spoke of attainable help as Ukrainian forces arrive at Fort Sill Military Base in Oklahoma to start coaching within the operation and upkeep of the Patriot missile protection system. The Patriot is essentially the most superior surface-to-air missile system ever given to Ukraine by the West to assist fend off Russian air assaults.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder mentioned the coaching will proceed for a number of months, and 90 to 100 Ukrainian troopers can be skilled on the way to use the Patriot missile system.

Biden additionally used Tuesday’s assembly to debate US efforts to additional prohibit China’s entry to superior semiconductors by export restrictions.

The administration has been attempting to get the Netherlands on observe for the reason that US Commerce Division introduced in October new export controls concentrating on China. The restrictions intention to restrict China’s entry to superior computing chips, the event and upkeep of supercomputers, and the manufacture of superior semiconductors.

“We’re working collectively on the way to preserve the Indo-Pacific free and open, and fairly frankly, the challenges dealing with China,” Biden mentioned firstly of the assembly.

Administration officers noticed the export restrictions as essential as a result of China may use semiconductors to create superior navy programs together with weapons of mass destruction; committing human rights violations; and enhance the pace and accuracy of navy decision-making, planning and logistics.

Netherlands-based expertise big ASML is a serious producer of lithographic machines that designs and produces semiconductors. China is one in every of ASML’s largest shoppers.

CEO Peter Wenink downplayed the influence of US export management rules shortly after administration unveiled them final fall. ASML mentioned final yr that it anticipated the corporate’s gross sales in 2022 to be round €21 billion.

America can be in talks with Japan about harder export restrictions to restrict the sale of semiconductor manufacturing expertise to China. Rutte’s go to comes after Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida final week for talks.

America and Japan mentioned, in a joint assertion after the assembly, that the 2 sides agreed to “hone our shared benefit on financial safety, together with defending and enhancing essential and rising applied sciences.”

Final week, Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesman Wang Wen known as on Japan and the Netherlands to withstand US stress.

“We hope related nations will do the fitting factor and work collectively to uphold the multilateral buying and selling system and safeguard the soundness of world business and provide chains,” he mentioned. “This may also defend their long-term pursuits.”

Biden has hailed the Netherlands as one of many United States’ “strongest allies”, and it has confirmed to be “very, very sturdy” in its help of Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February. The Netherlands has allotted about $2.7 billion (2.5 billion euros) to help Ukraine this yr. The cash can be spent on navy tools, humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.

For the Netherlands to supply Patriot help to Ukraine – whether or not or not it’s weapons programs, missiles or coaching – can be a serious step for the NATO ally.

The coaching of Ukrainian forces now underway in Oklahoma is ready to focus, partly, on the way to keep the battery that the US will ship to Ukraine as soon as the coaching is full. Every system accommodates a number of parts, together with a phased array radar, management station, computer systems, and mills, and normally requires about 90 troopers to function and keep, however solely three troopers are wanted to truly launch it, in response to the Military.

Among the ongoing upkeep help operations, as soon as Patriot is on the battlefield, can be achieved remotely, Ryder mentioned.

For his half, the Dutch Prime Minister praised Biden for main the worldwide effort to help Ukraine.

“I’m satisfied that historical past will decide in 2022 if the US had not stepped up like they did issues would have been very completely different,” Rutte mentioned.

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Corder experiences from The Hague, Netherlands. Related Press writers Lynn Perry, Tara Cobb, and Colleen Lengthy contributed reporting.