SPAIN'S ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000839

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR SP NATO
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS

REF: STATE 50477

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick,
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Polmiloff delivered reftel demarche March 10 to
Manuel Acerete, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy
Director General for International Security Affairs. Acerete
confirmed Spain would attend SHAPE's March 11 Force
Generation Conference. He explained that due to its
commitments in Iraq and the Balkans, Spain would have a
difficult time committing more than the current 130 or so
Spanish troops in Afghanistan for ISAF expansion. That said,
Spain agrees that no one can afford a NATO failure in
Afghanistan and will look at all options to determine if it
is be possible to contribute to ISAF expansion and the
deployment of new Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).


2. (C) Acerete also noted that Spain is one of the five
countries that make up Eurocorps, which has offered to
provide the headquarters element for ISAF for six months
beginning in August. Spain would expand its participation in
ISAF via Eurocorps if an agreement is reached for Eurocorps
to participate. We suggested that if Eurocorps does handle
the headquarters element it would be more appropriate for it
to do so for 12 months rather than just six months. Acerete
said Spain was considering this option but pointed out that
prior contingents have lead headquarters for only six months.


3. (C) Acerete emphasized that Spain understands the
critical importance of expanding ISAF and will do all it can
to assist ISAF in accomplishing its mission.

ARGYROS