The departing Dutch government has agreed to prolong its involvement in its five largest military operations for a further year.

Foreign affairs minister Bert Koenders, defence minister Jeanine Hennis and international development minister Lilianne Ploumen signed off on the extension of missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, Lithuania and the Horn of Africa.

The amount of material and personnel that the Netherlands will contribute to each mission in 2018 will be specified later.

Prime minister Mark Rutte had hoped to hold off a decision until the new government took office, but the long-running coalition talks forced his hand.

It ends months of uncertainty for around 850 armed forces personnel who were waiting to hear if they would be sent to a war zone at the start of next year.

Explaining the decision in a letter to Parliament, the ministers wrote: ‘The international security situation demands that the Netherlands continues to take its responsibility in 2018 and play an active role in international military efforts to stave off instability.’