CENTCOM MASTER PLAN FOR DEFENSE POSTURE

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000565 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/RSAT, NEA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL MU SUBJECT: CENTCOM MASTER PLAN FOR DEFENSE POSTURE REF: SECSTATE 61450 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (a). (S) The Embassy is well acquainted with the CENTCOM Master Plan (ref),having received previous briefings from CENTCOM elements. The Embassy's military and civilian components are comfortable with the Master Plan's vision for Oman, with a single exception. In addition to the Masirah and Thumrait locations mentioned in the Plan, there are currently significant stocks of war reserve materiel (WRM) stored at the military/civilian air facility at Seeb (which serves as Muscat's international commercial airport). The Royal Air Force of Oman is losing its installation at Seeb as part of a planned expansion of the civilian air terminals as of 2007. The Sultanate is currently constructing a new, military-only air facility in Al Musannah to which some of its Seeb assets will be relocated. There is a distinct possibility that some or all of our WRM at Seeb will likewise be relocated to the Al Musannah facility once built. We have requested that CENTAF study the feasibility of adding Al Musannah to the CENTCOM Master Plan and budgeting appropriately. BALTIMORE