NETHERLANDS/KYRGYZSTAN: RESPONSE ON MANAS AIRFIELD

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001186 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI, E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2016 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL AF KG NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/KYRGYZSTAN: RESPONSE ON MANAS AIRFIELD DEMARCHE REF: STATE 81543 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) The GONL supports USG access to Manas airbase, and in principle, might be willing to approach the Government of Kyrgyzstan to express support for continued U.S. access. MFA Senior Advisor for Central Asia Tanja Roling told Polmiloff May 24 that the Dutch MOD has acknowledged it would be "problematic" for coalition and ISAF operations if the USG no longer had access to Manas. Cognizant of the current USG high-level visit to Bishkek, Roling said the GONL would review reftel points and determine how best the Dutch could help. She noted that the Dutch had used Manas in the past for refueling F-16s, and while the GONL is not currently using the base as part of its deployment to Afghanistan, she could not rule out future Dutch use of the base. ARNALL