The Dutch Finance Minister has pulled out of a major investment conference in Saudi Arabia over the “very serious” disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the government said Thursday.
Wopke Hoekstra’s withdrawal from the October 23-25 Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh -- dubbed the “Davos in the Desert” -- follows that of French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and IMF chief Christine Lagarde.
The Netherlands announced it was also cancelling a planned trade mission visit to Saudi Arabia in December. “The disappearance of #Khashoggi is a very serious matter. Saudi Arabia has not yet been able to provide any clarification,” Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said as he announced the decision on Twitter.