25 April 2014
Minister of Defence: Dutch intelligence has not facilitated targeted killings
The Dutch Minister of Defence, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, maintains that the Netherlands does not facilitate illegal liquidations with drones by the United States and that the Dutch government has no indications that information gathered by the Dutch military intelligence agency (MIVD) was used for acts that violate international law. The statement by Hennis-Plasschaert is a reaction to the claim by former drone pilot, Brandon Bryant, that it is ‘unthinkable’ that the Dutch intelligence concerning Somalia has not been used by the US to conduct targeted killings of presumed terrorists.
The MIVD gathered intelligence in connection with NATO’s anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia. According to the Minister, the exchange of this intelligence takes place within the framework of regular cooperation and it is unusual that intelligence agencies inform each other whether the information is also used for other purposes.
Hennis-Plasschaert said that if it can be proven that a foreign ally carries out targeted killings for which Dutch intelligence has been used, this would result in a renewed assessment of whether the intelligence can be shared with this ally. However, the Dutch House of Representatives wants the government to make sure that information will only be shared under the explicit condition that it will not be used to conduct targeted killings.
See for a SHARES blog written on this topic here.
Source: Volkskrant | Hennis herhaalt: Nederland werkt niet mee aan illegale drone-aanvallen
Source: NRC | ‘Nederland levert metadata voor Amerikaanse aanvallen met drones’