ITALIAN MOD ON NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002315

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS GR IT NATO
SUBJECT: ITALIAN MOD ON NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE

REF: ATHENS 1723

CLASSIFIED BY: A/DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS
1.5(B),(D)


1. (C) ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ANTONIO MARTINO IS ADAMANT
THAT ANY NATO COMMAND STRUCTURING PLANS SHOULD MAKE SENSE
BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND OPERATIONALLY, ACCORDING TO FRANCESCO
TRUPIANO, MARTINO'S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR. DURING A MAY 23
DISCUSSION ON OTHER MATTERS, TRUPIANO TOLD POL-MIL COUNSELOR
THAT MARTINO HAD AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE AIRSOUTH FROM
ITALY TO TURKEY BECAUSE OF HIGH-LEVEL USG REQUESTS TO HIM
PERSONALLY, EVEN THOUGH HE COULD NOT SEE THE OPERATIONAL OR
ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE MOVE. IT WAS A "PAINFUL" CONCESSION,
TRUPIANO SAID, THAT RAN COUNTER TO ITALY'S NATIONAL INTERESTS
AND MARTINO'S CONSERVATIVE (U. OF CHICAGO) ECONOMICS
TRAINING. MARTINO WOULD NOT BE AS SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER
COMMAND STRUCTURING PROPOSALS THAT MADE LITTLE MILITARY,
ECONOMIC OR OPERATIONAL SENSE, TRUPIANO SAID.


2. (C) FOR THAT REASON, MARTINO OPPOSES THE IDEA OF
RELOCATING ITALY'S ONLY COMBINED AIR COMMAND CENTER (CAOC) TO
SPAIN, TRUPIANO SAID. AS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED, THE CAOC
GIVES HUNGARY AND ITALY STRATEGIC COVERAGE OF THE BALKANS
FROM TWO ANGLES. THIS ADVANTAGE WOULD BE LOST BY A MOVE WEST
TO SPAIN, TRUPIANO EXPLAINED.


3. (C) ITALY ALSO SEES NO BENEFIT FROM A CAOC IN GREECE,
WHICH WOULD IN EFFECT GIVE GREECE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER
TURKISH AIRSPACE. THIS WOULD NOT BE OFFSET BY MOVING
AIRSOUTH TO TURKEY BECAUSE AIRSOUTH CONSISTS OF A COMMAND
STRUCTURE WITH LITTLE OPERATIONAL EFFECT, ACCORDING TO
TRUPIANO. GREECE WOULD STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER TURKISH
AIRSPACE, WHICH MIGHT WELL PROMPT TURKEY TO INSIST ON HAVING
A CAOC OF ITS OWN.


4. (C) COMMENT. WHILE HE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY RAISE GREECE'S
PROPOSAL (REFTEL) TO MOVE NAVSOUTH FROM NAPLES TO GREECE (AND
NEITHER DID WE),TRUPIANO DID REMARK THAT, AFTER ITALY'S
COOPERATION ON THE AIRSOUTH MOVE, THE GOI WOULD STRONGLY
OPPOSE ANY OTHER PROPOSALS THAT WOULD FURTHER DIMINISH NATO'S
PRESENCE IN ITALY. END COMMENT.
SKODON

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2003ROME02315 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL