The Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean, Brigadier General Dick Swijgman has recently visited his French counterpart in Martinique, Rear Admiral Loïc Raffaelli. The two flag officers met at the Admiral’s headquarters in Fort-de-France to discuss the close cooperation between the French and the Dutch military and Coast Guard.
Both general Swijgman and admiral Raffaelli have extensive responsibilities in maritime security. As ‘Commandant Supérieur des Forces Armées aux Antilles’, Rear Admiral Raffaelli is responsible for all naval, land and air operations in the French area of responsibility in the Eastern Caribbean. Next to military, both commanders also have civil tasks and responsibilities. Which include Search and Rescue (SAR), to come to the aid of ships in distress, and maritime policing by local Coast Guard units.
Admiral Raffaelli and general Swijgman took time to discuss their efforts in countering the illicit drugs trade in the Caribbean. Both the Dutch and the French are part of the international, US led counter-drug organization JIATF South situated in Key West, Florida. Admiral Raffaelli fulfills the role of Commander Task Force 4.6, where general Swijgman is Commander Task Force 4.4. Under the supervision of JIATF South, operations against the drug trade are regularly undertaken in the Caribbean Sea with Dutch and French naval and air units actively participating.
Both flag officers ended their deliberations by stressing the importance of mutual cooperation and combined military effort, in combatting the drug trade, weapons smuggling and human trafficking. General Swijgman especially mentioned the extensive cooperation in the Dutch/French island of Saint Martin, where both international partners strive to further improve security at sea and in the air around the island. Combined operations in and around Saint Martin often include the maritime and air units of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The Substation of the Coast Guard in Saint Martin is located in Simpson Bay.