[POR] Message to Damen and the MoD of the Netherlands

[Bruno]

SECRET

Esteemed Partners Dutchy,

After careful evaluation of the Portuguese Navy, it was deemed necessary to start its reorganization and modernization, especially in the front of our Frigate Classes. After careful evaluation, we have views of your Frigate Class, especially the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates fit extremely well into our current maritime needs. We are interested in acquiring a limited production rights for this naval vessel. It is important to note that our proposal is based solely on production rights, and we do not seek the right of ownership, as such, if agreed upon, we'd only have the unrestricted capacity to produce this vessel. We also would not sell it or produce it to other nations, and in the eventuality of its decommission, we would scrap it in our naval docks. This approach ensures a collaborative and strategic partnership between our two nations. To facilitate this collaboration, we are prepared to offer a substantial sum of 3,000,000,000 US Dollars in exchange for the specified production rights. We understand the intricacies and the value of the technology involved, and we believe that this offer reflects the importance we place on acquiring these production capabilities, especially considering this amount is a total net profit, since no production cost would be included by the Netherlands. We of course are open to more discussions for any concerns you may have regarding this proposal.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Secretary of Defense,
Rui Pena

 

[Dutchy]

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Recipient: Secretary of Defense, Ministry of Defence, Portuguese Republic (Bruno)
Cc: -
Subject: De Zeven Provinciën-class Frigates
Attachment:
Classification: Private

Dear Secretary Pena,

We are honoured for the consideration of the 'De Zeven Provinciën-class Frigate' as a key component of your navy's modernisation programme. We believe that the De Zeven Provinciën stands as an exceptional vessel perfectly suited for integration into the Portuguese Navy, as it showcases a blend of cutting-edge technology, versatile capabilities, and robust operational performance. Our vessels are renowned for its multifaceted prowess, and the De Zeven Provinciën embodies qualities that convinces us that it is an ideal choice for Portugal's maritime defence strategy. Therefore, we are eager to delve into discussions regarding the potential sale of such vessels to the Portuguese Navy.

We've carefully considered your proposition, and while we acknowledge the potential benefits, we regret to inform you that we cannot concede unrestricted production rights for the De Zeven Provinciën-class Frigate. Damen places significant emphasis on preserving control over the production and distribution of our vessels to ensure adherence to stringent quality standards, safeguard intellectual property rights, and maintain strategic partnerships globally. The proprietary nature of the technology, combined with our commitment to international collaborations, necessitates our careful stewardship over the production process.

While we appreciate the generous offer presented, Damen's policy prohibits the complete transfer of production rights without maintaining oversight and control over the manufacturing process. We value the potential for collaboration and are open to exploring alternative avenues that align with both our interests and respect Damen's commitment to maintaining control over the production of our vessels.

To that regard, and if your government remains open to potential collaboration, our Chairman, Kommer Damen, has asked me to inquire whether you would be open to a phone call to discuss that opportunities may exist between Damen and the Portuguese Republic.

Yours Sincerely,

Arnout Pender
Director of Sales (Europe)