Major General Rob De Wit, Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, expressed the potential for collaboration with India to protect its underwater infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines. During his visit to India, he emphasized the importance of enhancing situational awareness of seabed activities through the use of unmanned systems, which the Netherlands is significantly investing in. This aligns with the recent signing of a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation between India and the Netherlands, aimed at creating a Defence Industrial Roadmap for technology collaboration and co-development of defense platforms.

De Wit highlighted the necessity of maintaining open sea lines of communication, which are vital for both nations' economies. He mentioned that the Netherlands plans to deploy a naval ship to the Indo-Pacific every two years to ensure maritime security in this crucial region. Furthermore, he noted the ongoing planning by over 40 nations, including the Netherlands, for a multinational maritime mission to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been affected by Iranian-backed actions. This cooperation reflects a growing defense partnership between India and the Netherlands, focusing on mutual benefits and enhanced security in maritime domains.