UK and Netherlands Launch $3.2 Billion Maritime Partnership to Build Next-Generation Amphibious Ships
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have unveiled a landmark $3.2 billion (£2.4 billion) maritime partnership that will strengthen naval cooperation, enhance NATO’s collective defence capabilities, and support the construction of a new fleet of advanced amphibious transport ships. Under the agreement, the vessels will be built in UK shipyards in collaboration with Dutch industry, combining British shipbuilding expertise with proven Dutch naval design.
The new amphibious ships will be based on an established Dutch design and will become the backbone of an expanded UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force, with each nation operating four vessels. Measuring approximately 160 metres in length and displacing 15,000 tonnes, the ships will be capable of transporting troops, military vehicles, heavy equipment, and drones. Their flight decks will also be designed to support both current and future generations of long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and autonomous technologies, reflecting the growing role of uncrewed systems in modern naval operations.
Beyond shipbuilding, the agreement expands defence-industrial collaboration between the two allies in the fields of autonomous maritime technology, uncrewed systems, and advanced military capabilities. The partnership was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during a meeting of NATO leaders in Ankara on 7 July.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as a long-term investment in both national security and the maritime industry, saying the partnership is designed not only to build advanced naval vessels but also to ensure both countries remain prepared for future security challenges. He added that combining British industrial capability with Dutch naval design expertise will strengthen NATO while creating and sustaining skilled jobs across UK shipyards.
The agreement is expected to support hundreds of highly skilled jobs throughout the United Kingdom’s shipbuilding sector, providing a significant boost to the country’s maritime manufacturing industry.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said the strengthened alliance will deliver a more capable amphibious force by enabling both navies to operate identical equipment, conduct joint military exercises, and, when necessary, deploy together in support of NATO operations. He noted that closer defence cooperation will improve deterrence and contribute to the security of both Europe and the North Atlantic region.
The new agreement builds upon more than five decades of successful maritime cooperation through the long-standing UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force. Under the enhanced partnership, the Royal Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy will increase joint training, deployments, and operational activities while also expanding cooperation to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure and counter emerging threats across the North Atlantic and the High North.
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The strategic partnership represents another major step in strengthening European maritime security, advancing allied naval interoperability, and supporting the future of defence shipbuilding through closer industrial and military cooperation.
