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
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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