CANADA SEARCHING FOR PARTNERS FOR ISAF IV AND V

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000540

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF CA ISAF
SUBJECT: CANADA SEARCHING FOR PARTNERS FOR ISAF IV AND V

REF: OTTAWA 435

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora,
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Since Defense Minister McCallum's February 12
announcement that Canada would contribute a battalion and
brigade headquarters to ISAF IV and V (reftel),the GoC has
been busy seeking potential partners. The GoC has stressed
that it does not have the resources to lead ISAF alone, and
it hopes to get confirmation in the next few weeks that
Germany will help lead ISAF IV. For ISAF V, Canada is
looking at either Italy or Spain. McCallum has spoken with
Italian Defense Minister Martino, and will be lobbying him
again during a June visit to Ottawa. Canadian officials tell
us that while Spain's Parliament had decided not to
participate, during the Munich meetings German Defense
Minister Struck got his Spanish counterpart Trillo to agree
to take another look.


2. (C) Canada wants quickly to begin negotiations on a
Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. military on support
for this mission, and is pushing for NATO support as well.
McCallum has said NATO participation is needed to help ensure
ISAF continuity. Meanwhile, there continue to be misgivings
in the Canadian Forces about their ISAF contribution because
of its size and duration. MGEN Cam Ross, Department of
National Defense (DND) Director General for International
Security Policy, resigned (effective in June) after the ISAF
announcement to protest what he saw as an over-commitment of
Canadian troops. Ironically, Ross is leading a DND team that
is visiting Italy, Spain, and possibly Germany and NATO this
week to discuss ISAF force structure. While Canada needs
another major partner for ISAF IV and V, DND also wants to
ensure that it has an appropriate tactical and leadership
role.


3. (C) To complement Canada's military contribution to ISAF,
Foreign Affairs (DFAIT) is pushing to open a diplomatic
mission in Kabul. Cabinet has approved the concept of such a
mission, but DFAIT is now in a battle with the Treasury Board
over funding. DFAIT currently covers Afghanistan from its
Embassy in Islamabad.


4. (C) COMMENT: Critics of the GoC's ISAF commitment point to
the fact that Canada was unable to replace a battalion that
it pulled out of Afghanistan (where it was part of Operation
Enduring Freedom) after a 6-month stint last year. While DND
did better than expected in the GoC budget announced earlier
this month - an increase of 7%, or $530 million, plus $215
million additional for contingency operations - a 12-month
commitment to ISAF will be a major drain on the Canadian
Forces. Canada will need all the help it can get from Allies
and, ideally, from NATO itself.
CELLUCCI