Last June, the Dutch government agreed to extend the contribution of the Netherlands to NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. In addition to the 100 personnel currently deployed, another 60 military personnel will work closely with German forces to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.

The main goal is to provide more military continuity and demonstrate the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan. After 17 years of conflict, the majority of Afghanistan’s provinces is still prone to instability and high levels of violence.

The decision to extend and enlarge the contribution in Afghanistan followed the decision to end the Dutch military contribution to the MINUSMA mission in Mali. This was partly due to a highly critical report by the Dutch Audit Chamber, stating that the mission had to overcome “serious problems in both the preparation phase and during the mission itself”. 

How should we view practices, effectiveness and (unintended) consequences of peace missions? How much does reality diverge from intentions on paper, and what role does the NATO, as well as the EU and the UN, play in fostering peace and security? The answer to these questions and others will be discussed during Clingendael’s upcoming Training Course on International Security.

Want to learn more about peace missions? Join the Course on International Security
Are you curious about the implications and realities of peace missions? Are you interested in other security issues and dilemmas in general? If so, the Course on International Security is for you.

What will you learn?
The Course on International Security will take place from 24 October – 2 November at the Clingendael Institute and will address the most important security trends of today. Amongst others, Military Historian Dr. Christ Klep will discuss (unintended) consequences of peace missions. Additionally, you will analyse and discuss a wide variety of security-related topics, such as cyber threats, terrorism, Russia’s assertiveness, the future of Trans-Atlantic cooperation, the ring of instability around Europe, and security implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. At the end of the course you will have developed a better understanding of the most urgent contemporary security issues.

Want to know more about the course or sign up immediately? Click here.