NETHERLANDS: EXCESS F-16 INQUIRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003247 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/RSAT, EUR/UBI, SA/PB, SA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2015 TAGS: NL ETTC MARR PK BE PREL MAS SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: EXCESS F-16 INQUIRY REF: A. THE HAGUE 1438 ¶B. STATE 218729 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) The GONL is not/not interested in selling F-16s to Pakistan -- either directly or through the United States. Dutch MOD State Secretary Cees van der Knaap told Charge and ODC Chief December 2 that the re-sale issue is very clear: the Dutch will not sell F-16s to Pakistan, and will not be associated will any re-sale to Pakistan. Van der Knaap added that the Dutch were looking at selling additional F-16s to Jordan beyond the three previously agreed to planes. Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) Van der Knaap was well-versed in the state-of-play in Belgium and the United States on the possible F-16 re-sale to Pakistan. Charge pushed van der Knaap, suggesting there might be some wriggle room (as indicated ref A) if the deal was done discretely. Van der Knaap replied that "there is no issue for the Dutch -- we will not sell F-16s or other weapons to Pakistan" that could potentially reach Kashmir. For example, the Dutch would be willing to sell ships to Pakistan, but not F-16s. While ref B was transmitted closely following the meeting with van der Knaap, the points were covered during the conversation. Van der Knaap is the Dutch authority on arms transfers, and we take his stated position as authoritative. BLAKEMAN