The French government accused the Dutch government of acting in a manner resembling an "unfriendly corporate raider" after The Hague had bought a 12.68% stake in Air France-KLM to protect its national interest.
Reuters reported that Paris was upset about not being informed of the plans in advance.
"The way that the stake was built up was more like that done by a corporate raider, rather than a state shareholder. [It was an] unfriendly, surprising move that is extremely detrimental to Air France-KLM financially," an official said.
The French President Emmanuel Macron asked the Dutch to clarify their intentions, while Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called the purchase "incomprehensible" and said that the airline holding should be free of political interference.
The French government holds a 14.3% stake in Air France-KLM and has long been accused by the Dutch of protecting its own interests despite the fact that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a much more profitable unit than Air France.
"The purpose of this purchase is to ensure that the Dutch public interest is better protected and more widely taken into account in the decision-making of the Air France-KLM holding company," the Dutch ministers of infrastructure and finances explained earlier in a letter to the parliament. They also said that The Hague will eventually look to match the French state's stake in the holding.
