Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), French Air Force General Jean-Paul Paloméros, visited The Netherlands January 10, 2013.

During the visit hosted by The Netherlands' Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp, SACT met the Dutch Minister of Defence, Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert.

General Paloméros also took part in roundtable discussions with senior military and government staff members, regarding the transformation of The Netherlands' Armed Forces and topics related to international cooperation in this domain. Paloméros expressed his appreciation for The Netherlands' support to the NATO Secretary General's Smart Defence and Connected Forces Initiatives and highlighted the maritime cooperation with Belgium through Benelux as an excellent example of multinational cooperation.

General Palomeros also visit the Hague Centre of Strategic Studies (HCSS) and was briefed on the Enschede Civil-Military Co-operation Centre of Excellence (COE). He encouraged the COE director, Colonel Wibe Baron to continue the Centre's engagement and training efforts – which is acknowledged to have provided invaluable, innovative and timely advice and expertise to NATO in what is regarded an important and rapidly evolving field.

General Paloméros lauded the commitment and contributions from The Netherlands' armed forces to NATO operations in Afghanistan, at the Horn of Africa ["Ocean Shield"]. He also hailed the decision to deploy Patriot missiles to augment Turkey's air defences, as a great demonstration of solidarity between NATO Allies.

General Palomeros expressed satisfaction with what he regarded as very productive meetings.