SPAIN: FURTHER REACTION TO GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003118 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, PM/RSAT, EAP/RSA OSD FOR STRATEGY, EUR JCS FOR STRATEGY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2014 TAGS: PARM PREL KPAO SP NATO SUBJECT: SPAIN: FURTHER REACTION TO GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 174698 ¶B. MADRID 3103 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert J. Riley, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following up on ref A demarche and ref B reporting cable concerning U.S. Global Defense Posture Review (GDPR), we delivered the demarche August 15 to General Felix Sanz, the Spanish Armed Forces' Chief of Defense, and Admiral Francisco Torrente, Secretary General for Defense Policy at the Ministry of Defense (undersecretary for policy equivalent). Both defense officials received the demarche very well. Sanz said he appreciated the update and the advance notice of President Bush's speech. Spain understands, said Sanz, that the U.S. has the freedom and the right to revamp the placement of its forces as it sees fit. The only thing Spain requests is advance notice of any impact the changes will have on Spain. ¶2. (C) Torrente also welcomed the demarche, saying Spain has been and will remain a loyal ally of the United States. Spain appreciates the open dialogue it has had with the U.S. on GDPR. The U.S., Torrente said, could count on very good cooperation from Spain on GDPR, just as Spain has cooperated closely with the U.S. on defense matters for the last 50 years. ¶3. (C) Comment: Both defense officials appreciated the advance notice of the President's speech and the GDPR update. To the extent the evolving GDPR impacts Spain and particularly the U.S. presence at Rota Naval Air Station and Moron Air Base, the earlier we can communicate the relevant details to the Spanish, the better. MANZANARES