AUSTRALIAN AND DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000120

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN AND DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS
AFGHANISTAN

Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: Netherlands Foreign Minister Maxime
Verhagen and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith shared
views on future engagement in Afghanistan in meetings January
18-21 in Australia. Both Ministers shared the view that more
than one year after significant meetings in Bucharest and
Paris, little progress has been made on the National
Development Strategy for Afghanistan. They also noted the
variability in NATO contributions with the training of the
Afghan National Army (ANA) and OMLT deployments falling
further behind. Both Ministers expect requests from the U.S.
for additional support and will give those full
consideration. They also anticipate an increased U.S.
presence in RC-South, including a possible U.S. PRT
leadership role. FM Smith advised FM Verhagen that Australia
has taken a proactive approach to an anticipated U.S. request
and is estimating what additional support can be provided,
including enabling contributions for areas other than
RC-South. They agreed to explore opportunities for civilian
development, including police training. While the Dutch are
supportive of an Afghan component to the NATO Summit in
Strasbourg, they are unlikely to take an advocacy role. End
Summary.

AFGHANISTAN DOMINATES DISCUSSIONS
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2. (C/NF) Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary, and Jon
Merrill, Director, of the Afghanistan and Iraq Branch,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, briefed Embassy
Poloff on the Ministerial meetings on February 4. Merrill
indicated that the meeting between the Ministers was
dominated by Afghan issues, with discussions focused on how
current operations are tracking and plans for future
engagement. Both Ministers reaffirmed a commitment to
assisting the Afghans, although Merrill stated that the Dutch
focus is on assistance to the Afghan people and not on
preventing a safe haven for terrorism. Both countries
recognized the need for more security forces to support
civilian activities and are exploring opportunities to work
together on justice and security, reform capacity-building,
and police training.

FUTURE PLANS FOR AFGHANISTAN
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3. (C/NF) Merrill shared that the Dutch are holding firm on
their planned withdrawal of military leadership from RC-South
in Oruzgan Province in August 2010, expressing a view that
the Province will be fully civilianized by then. FM Smith is
reported to have reacted skeptically, characterizing this as
an incredibly optimistic outlook, given current security
trends. Australia urged the Dutch not to withdraw too
quickly and to coordinate with the Australians and the U.S.
FM Verhagen acknowledged the optimistic outlook and advised
that the withdrawal will be a sensitive operation. He noted
that troop rotation is running behind schedule, as forces
promised by other NATO and ISAF contributing nations to
relieve Dutch forces have not materialized as promised. FM
Verhagen shared that the public narrative on PRT leadership
withdrawal does not preclude a continued Dutch military
presence in Afghanistan, but that domestic coalition
political issues still need to be worked out. Merrill noted
that "pride of ownership" for Dutch accomplishments in the
province and a desire to see those accomplishments
maintained, may influence Dutch troop withdrawal and future
civilian contributions.

STRASBOURG NATO SUMMIT
QSTRASBOURG NATO SUMMIT
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4. (C/NF) While it has no objections to including an ISAF
component at the Strasbourg NATO Summit, The Netherlands is
unwilling to advocate for expansion of the Summit for its
inclusion. Merrill shared that The Netherlands listened
politely to Australia's concerns, but suggested that perhaps
the Summit hosts have a different view.


5. (C/NF) Merrill acknowledged to Poloff that Australia has
more work to do to get Afghanistan front and center with
non-NATO countries and in the UN and that they are working
these issues. Hawkins indicated that it would be
unsatisfactory to hold an ISAF meeting of Foreign and Defense
Ministers at some date after the Summit, as the Summit
provides the international platform from which to send a
strong message to the Taliban of global commitment and
resolve. He expressed concern that the absence of

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Afghanistan from the Summit agenda would indicate a lack of
urgency and reach.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE DUTCH
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6. (C/NF) Merrill described the relationship between the
countries as working well but noted it has not progressed
beyond their military cooperation in RC-South. He commented
that the Dutch acknowledged they do not have a leadership
role in the EU or NATO and are looking for active UN
engagement in Afghanistan, including opening of the promised
UN regional office in Oruzgan. Merrill reported that the
Dutch view themselves as a "good example" but not in a
leadership role.

U.S. SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIAN MISSION IN KABUL
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7. (C/NF) Separately, Hawkins took the opportunity to
express the thanks of the Government of Australia for
continued U.S. support of the Australian diplomatic mission
in Kabul. He said they were very grateful for the all the
U.S. has done to ensure continuity in their diplomatic
operations.

CLUNE