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