SPAIN PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR NATO RESPONSE FORCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003691

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PK SP NATO
SUBJECT: SPAIN PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR NATO RESPONSE FORCE
MISSION TO PAKISTAN

REF: STATE 194572

Classified By: PolCouns Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (C) POLOFF discussed reftel points on October 21 with MOD
Deputy Director for Defense Policy Admiral Enrique Perez
Ramirez and Spain's Defense Counselor to NATO CAPT Gonzalo
Rodriguez. They said that Spain recognizes the urgency of
the situation and is prepared to fully support whatever NATO
Response Force (NRF) mission that NATO approves. They said
(and the Spanish press has reported) that because Spain is
one of the main suppliers of troops to the NRF right now,
Spain anticipates sending a headquarters group and an
engineering unit, totaling approximately 300 soldiers, if
NATO approves the mission. They noted that the first draft
of the OpPlan contained a list of needed units and mentioned
the engineering unit specifically, but that the next draft
did not specify troop requirements. Spanish press reports
that Defense Minister Bono will go to Spanish Parliament on
October 25 to seek approval or acquiescence in the deployment
of Spanish troops. Parliament is expected to grant approval.


2. (C) Because Spain expects to be a major supplier of NRF
troops, it would like to see NATO allies take responsibility
for other critical needs such as strategic airlift. Ramirez
and Rodriguez said that Spain's ambassador to NATO has
already circulated a letter to NATO ambassadors explaining
Spain's position and suggesting that this would be a good
time to begin using a common funding model for NATO
operations. Nonetheless, they were clear that Spain would
have the needed units ready to go as quickly as possible and
would not hold this mission hostage to Spain's desire to move
forward on common funding.


3. (C) They noted Spain's concern that Pakistan has not yet
accepted the NRF mission, nor is a SOFA in place, and that
nothing can be done until these agreements are in place.
They also noted that Spain has already sent rescue squads and
planeloads of humanitarian supplies. We will follow up with
MFA.
AGUIRRE