DJIBOUTI: EMBASSY VIEWS ON UNSC RESOLUTION ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001659

SIPDIS

FOR IO/UNP, PMAT, PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2013
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL DJ IZ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: EMBASSY VIEWS ON UNSC RESOLUTION ON IRAQ

REF: STATE 256573

Classified By: ADCM Haywood Rankin for reason 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) The UNSC resolution outlined in reftel would not
bother Djibouti, so long as there were not strong Arab or
European opposition to it. Djibouti does not want to be seen
leading any charge on Iraq, but it will not be a negative
force. It is small, poor, and in Arab League terms,
peripheral. It is also more exposed than ever, with an
American base on its soil now, in addition to the French
garrison.


2. (C) Djibouti particularly does not want to get out in
front of Arab states on Arab issues, as it does not want to
annoy rich and powerful Arab patrons. Nor does it want to go
out of its way to pick a fight with France, however tetchy it
often feels in its relationship with its former colonial
master and present protector.


3. (C) That said, Djibouti has no ax to grind on Iraq.
Moreover, it is likely to see great potential benefits from
the U.S. if it were to accede to our wishes on a subject of
such great importance to us. The Djibouti leadership finds
itself caught between a rock and a hard place, and we have
intermittent signs that it may still be considering the idea
of some sort of very low-level military participation in Iraq.
SMITH