GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE REVIEW DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000762

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/RPM, AND PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR LO NATO
SUBJECT: GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE REVIEW DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 174698

Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4 b, d

(C) 1. Charge delivered reftel demarche August 13 to MFA and
MOD officials responsible for security policy and alliance
affairs, as well as Prime Minister's international affairs
advisor. All expressed appreciation for heads-up on the
President's likely decision and speech and thus to be able to
respond to likely local press inquiries. They understood
that Slovakia was not under consideration for stationing of
U.S. troops under the new structure, but reiterated
Slovakia's willingness to host training deployments at a
number of facilities. In that context, MFA officials asked
about missile defense discussions, noting that their three
neighbors (Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary) were being
considered for possible deployment while Slovakia was not.
Charge replied based on informal guidance that there were
(unspecified) practical reasons why Slovakia had not been
included in these discussions.

(U) 2. ACTION REQUEST: We would appreciate a brief cleared
explanation for Slovakia's exclusion from consideration for
missile defense deployment discussions which can be shared
with GOS officials and used by them to respond to press
inquiries.
THAYER


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