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