India has called on the Netherlands to suspend military exports to Pakistan, citing threats to regional security and allegations of terrorism support, during a meeting on March 18, 2025.
Pakistan tested a 249-mile strike weapon putting S-400 at risk - Fatah II
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Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh pressed Dutch counterpart Ruben Brekelmans in New Delhi to reconsider arms shipments, arguing that they enhance Pakistan’s ability to destabilize the region, particularly along India’s borders.
The request stems from India’s longstanding claim that Pakistan backs insurgent groups targeting its territory, a charge Islamabad denies. While the Netherlands has not yet responded officially, Singh also proposed expanding defense ties between New Delhi and Amsterdam. The exchange highlights escalating tensions in South Asia and their potential impact on European arms trade.
Hindistan, bölgesel güvenlik ve “teröre destek” iddialarını öne sürerek Hollanda’dan Pakistan’a askeri sevkiyatı durdurmasını istedi. pic.twitter.com/herRyADD0M
— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) March 19, 2025
The discussion arose from India’s concerns over Pakistan’s military buildup, which New Delhi sees as a direct challenge. Singh warned that Dutch-supplied equipment could be used in operations threatening India, especially in the contested Kashmir region.
According to India’s Ministry of Defense, quoted by Hindustan Times, Singh told Brekelmans, “Arming Pakistan risks fueling conflict in a fragile area.”
The meeting followed months of Indian diplomatic efforts to limit Pakistan’s access to foreign technology amid a rivalry dating back to their 1947 partition. Though specifics of current Dutch exports were not disclosed, the appeal underscores India’s strategic push to curb its neighbor’s capabilities.
The Netherlands has a history of defense dealings with Pakistan, though on a smaller scale compared to major suppliers like China. In the 1990s, it sold four Alkmaar-class minehunters to the Pakistan Navy, followed by patrol boats and surplus armored vehicles in later years, brokered through companies like Damen Shipyards.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Dutch arms exports to Pakistan between 2010 and 2020 at roughly $150 million, a modest sum but significant in New Delhi’s eyes. India’s focus likely includes recent talks of maritime systems, which could strengthen Pakistan’s naval reach—a sore point given past confrontations.
India’s position is tied to its narrative of Pakistan as a terrorism sponsor. New Delhi points to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, linked to the 2019 Pulwama bombing of 40 Indian soldiers.
A 2024 Home Ministry report, cited by The Times of India, logged over 300 infiltration attempts across the Line of Control last year, reinforcing India’s stance.
Pakistan rejects these accusations, with its Foreign Ministry asserting that its military procurements are defensive. Singh shared undisclosed intelligence with Brekelmans to bolster his case, per ANI News, though details remain under wraps.
The New Delhi talks doubled as an opportunity for India to pitch closer ties with the Netherlands. Singh suggested joint defense projects, tapping into India’s $120 billion defense market, projected to grow 5% annually, according to Deloitte.
Brekelmans listened but gave no firm answer, sources told NDTV, leaving the Netherlands’ next move unclear. As a NATO member with a $12 billion defense industry, the Netherlands must balance India’s plea against its trade interests and EU export rules, which prioritize stability and human rights.
Pakistan has yet to comment directly on the meeting, though its past rebuttals offer clues. Last month, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters, “Our defense needs are legitimate and sovereign,” responding to similar concerns about Chinese arms.
Islamabad’s trade with the Netherlands hit $1.2 billion in 2024, per its Commerce Ministry, suggesting it will resist disruptions. Analysts anticipate quiet lobbying from Pakistan to maintain Dutch support, especially as India presses harder.
The stakes in South Asia are steep. India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, have fought four wars and maintained a tense ceasefire in Kashmir. India’s navy dwarfs Pakistan’s—140 warships to 20—but Islamabad’s Chinese-supplied frigates and submarines worry New Delhi, per the 2024 Military Balance report.
Dutch patrol boats could bolster Pakistan’s coastal defenses, a scenario India dreads after incidents like the 1999 Kargil naval standoff. Singh’s appeal aims to preempt such a shift.
The Netherlands’ arms sector, driven by firms like Damen and Thales, exported $3.8 billion in equipment last year, per the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Sales to Pakistan align with its policy of aiding maritime security in developing nations.
India’s terrorism allegations could trigger stricter EU oversight under the Common Position on Arms Exports, though Dutch officials remain silent. A government spokesperson told NOS News, “We assess each export individually,” offering little insight into a final stance.
India has a track record of challenging Pakistan’s suppliers. It has criticized China’s $6 billion JF-17 jet program and U.S. F-16 upgrades for Islamabad, arguing they empower militancy.
With the Netherlands, Singh paired security concerns with economic bait—co-developing naval systems to lure Dutch firms into India’s shipbuilding surge. This follows a $5.5 billion Rafale deal with France last year and talks for 26 Rafale-M jets, signaling India’s spending power.
The meeting reflects India’s growing European outreach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch PM Mark Rutte signed an $8 billion trade pact last month, setting the stage for defense talks.
As the EU debates a €800 billion rearmament plan amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, India’s request tests Europe’s geopolitical priorities. The Netherlands, a mid-tier player, faces a choice between two South Asian rivals.
Pakistan’s Western military ties have shrunk since the 1990s, when U.S. aid topped $1 billion yearly. Dutch exports partly filled that void, but India’s pressure could push Islamabad toward China, which supplied $2 billion in arms last year, per SIPRI, or Turkey.
This risks accelerating an arms race, especially if India fast-tracks its own deals. The Netherlands’ response could reshape regional power dynamics.
Dutch politics may sway the outcome. Lawmakers, per De Volkskrant, debate economic gains versus ethical limits, with no consensus. India expects a reply soon, given its urgency, but Brekelmans’ questions about evidence suggest caution, per NDTV sources. Pakistan likely banks on trade ties to hold firm, though its leverage is weaker than India’s.
Details from the talks are scarce beyond initial statements. India plans follow-ups, possibly with Dutch firms, per Economic Times sources, while Pakistan’s silence hints at behind-the-scenes efforts. The Netherlands’ decision remains pending, with no set timeline.
This diplomatic clash reveals South Asia’s fragility. India’s push could alter arms flows, depending on Dutch resolve. For now, New Delhi leverages evidence and economics, while Pakistan braces for shifts. The resolution will show whether Europe opts for stability or commerce in a tense region.
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