Netherlands Ambassador visits Spanish Centre of Excellence against Improvised Explosive Devices

• The diplomat visited the facilities of the Centre of Excellence to know details of its operation and to be aware of the work carried out by the Dutch personnel assigned to it

The Netherlands Ambassador to Spain, Roel Nieuwenkamp, accompanied by the Defence Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Roel de Winter, visited the Centre of Excellence against Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED COE), where he was received by its Chairman, Colonel Javier Corbacho Margallo, and by representatives of the twelve nations that form part of the Centre.

During the visit, the Ambassador received a briefing from the Commander about the Centre's many research, analysis and training activities and its position as a NATO reference centre in the fight against C-IEDs. In his presentation, the Commander of the Centre of Excellence highlighted the importance of countering IED systems, which is not only their most visible aspect, the explosive and its effects, but all the networks that lead to their design, preparation and emplacement. The intelligence and training of the force in these aspects are the focus of the Centre. During the discussion with the ambassador, the latter showed his interest in the evolution of the C-IED fight in relation to the latest world events and the degree of satisfaction with the Dutch personnel assigned to the Centre, from whom he was able to learn first-hand what their work consists of.

After the introduction, the Ambassador visited the facilities and was impressed by the work of the Centre's staff. He then signed the Book of Honour.

The Netherlands is part of the initial core of eight NATO nations that, on 24 June 2010, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the C-IED COE in Hoyo de Manzanares and its functional relationship with the Supreme Allied Command Transformation (SACT). Since then, the Netherlands has had two officers permanently stationed at the Centre, whose functions are in the Command Group as Operations Officer and in the Force Readiness Group, Training Section.