Against a European alternative

The Swedish car and aeroplane manufacturer Saab has accused the Dutch Ministry of Defence of failing to give its bid for the construction of new fighter jets serious consideration. De Volkskrant writes that the ministry decided long ago in favour of the American Joint Strike Fighter (JSF): "The focus has always been on the alleged operational advantages of the JSF, and never on the political implications of a decision in favour of an American company and against a European alternative. People in The Hague may think that this is of secondary importance, but that is rather naive. In the eyes of other European countries the clear Dutch preference for the JSF stands in sharp contrast to The Hague's pretty words on the imortance of Europe. When it comes down to it, the Dutch prefer to back Transatlantic, and not European alliances."

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