Oliva, Alan Christopher S. International Law Prof.
Pauline Brillantes
TTh 3:30 – 5:00 PM September 7, 2015
Position Paper Representing the Country of Netherlands in the use of Drones
Technology has been a very important recipe in the progress of mankind –technologies that not
only enhance not only the daily living of humans but also the military capabilities of states. Alongside
with the advancement of armed weapons and tactics, military drone is one of the newest inventions that
some states viewed to be beneficial, and others to be not. Military drones are unmanned aircraft that has
the capability of roaming a very distant area while carrying surveillance mechanisms as well as weapons.
Drones are stealthy objects. “Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS), also known as drones, are aircraft either
controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or increasingly, autonomously following a pre-programmed
mission. While there are dozens of different types of drones, they basically fall into two categories: those
that are used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes and those that are armed with missiles and
bombs” [ CITATION Chr10 \l 1033 ]. It can even enter the aerial domain of other states without them
knowing it. Of all the nations adopting and pursuing the technology of military drones, one of them is The
Netherlands.
The Netherlands is a country located in Western Europe consisting of three primary islands. As of
2015, The Netherlands is composed of 16,924,632 people, making it the 64th most populated and 27th of
the most densely populated country in the world. The Armed Forces of Netherlands is consisting of The
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy and Korps Mariniers, Royal Military Constabulary,
and Royal Netherlands Air Force. The lattermost is the one responsible in all aerial armed matters which
includes the use of drones.
In 2013, The Netherlands participated in an agreement with seven of the members of European
Union relating to the use of drones. The nations namely Greece, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland,
and Netherlands, agreed in Brussels on the 19 th of November in the said year that they will start and
continuously produce military drones starting 2020. Also, they have signed a letter of intent saying that
the European Defence Agency will have to conduct a study on how the joint production is beneficial to
the seven states. The European Defence Agency then stated that this action’s aim is to enhance the
cooperation through exchange of information of the member states. The group of seven is called the ‘club
of drone using countries’.
The Netherlands also, is going to buy military drones from the United States. United States is
willing to sale four General Atomics MQ-9 Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft
Systems to the Netherlands. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will start receiving these drones by 2016
and expects that by 2017, will become operational. It was the Dutch ministry of Defense who chose MQ-
9 Reaper in 2013. Although the MQ-9 Reaper is capable of carrying weapons, the Royal Netherlands Air
Force is not planning to add such to their new military equipment. Its sole purpose is for surveillance.
These drones will enhance the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability of Dutch Military
in support with coalition operations such as NATO and UN-mandated.
It is evident that Netherlands is taking part in the adoption, promotion, and pursuing of the use of
drones. Lately, Netherlands has been cooperating with other states about the use and production of
drones. It will be hypocritical if Netherlands will not support the International Convention on the use of
Military Drones while it is dealing with other states relating to the use of Military Drones. As a delegate
of The Netherlands, it is safe to say that The Netherlands will be taking part in the promulgation of
International Convention on the use of Military Drones.
Works Cited
Cole, C. (2010, January). Drone Wars UK. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from Drone Wars UK Web Site:
http://www.dronewars.net
