Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANAA1688
2005-06-18 13:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

VADM NICHOLS MEETS WITH ROYG DEFENSE, INTERIOR

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001688 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM MASS MCAP YM MARITIME SECURITY
SUBJECT: VADM NICHOLS MEETS WITH ROYG DEFENSE, INTERIOR
MINSTER, YCG COMMANDER

REF: SANAA 1377

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001688

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM MASS MCAP YM MARITIME SECURITY
SUBJECT: VADM NICHOLS MEETS WITH ROYG DEFENSE, INTERIOR
MINSTER, YCG COMMANDER

REF: SANAA 1377

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary. Visiting U.S. NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral
Nichols met with the Ministers of Defense and Interior and
the Commander of the Yemen Coast Guard (YCG) on June 12,

2005. All three ROYG officials expressed their gratitude to
the USG for its assistance in establishing and training the
YCG, saying that even in its infant stage the force is having
a positive impact on coastal security. VADM Nichols assured
his ROYG interlocutors that the USG would continue to support
Yemen's efforts to build its maritime security capabilities.

--------------
Yemen is Poor, Yemen Needs More
--------------


2. (C) Minister of Defense Alaiwa delivered his standard
message to senior USG military and civilian officials: Yemen
is poor and underdeveloped; fighting the GWOT is our first
priority, but it has exhausted our treasury; therefore, we
need much more USG assistance. "Yemen is a stage for
al-Qaida and other (re: al-Houthi) terrorists," Alaiwa told
VADM. We appreciate U.S. assistance to the YGC, continued the
DM, but Yemen does not have a real navy, and no money to buy
parts or build ports.


--------------
Smuggling of Weapons, Drugs, and People
--------------


2. (C) VADM Nichols explained NAVCENT'S maritime security
mission in separate meetings to the Ministers of Defense and
Interior. A coalition force made up of the U.S., U.K.,
Germany, France, and Pakistan has two objectives: to prevent
terrorists from using the sea as a venue for attacks against
ships and oil infrastructure at sea; and, to prevent
terrorist from using the sea to move operatives and equipment
to conduct attacks on shore. A major issue in this AOR is
smuggling of weapons, drugs and people, continued VADM.
NAVCENT combats smugglers by pressurizing their routes.
"While smugglers may not be directly connected to terrorism,"
said VADM, "terrorists are their customers."

--------------
Return of U.S. Navy to Aden Port?
--------------


3. (C) VADM Nichols pointed out to the Interior and Defense
Ministers how well NAVCENT's maritime security operations and
priorities coincided with Yemen's security interests,
suggesting that Yemen and the YCG could benefit from
participating more routinely in joint monitoring and
interdiction exercises and missions. "It need not be
anything complicated," said VADM, "your officers are always
welcome on our ships." Defense Minister Alaiwa asked when he
would see a U.S. Navy vessel return to Aden Port. VADM
Nichols responded that he is working on a U.S. Naval visit
"in the not too distant future," and that the best scenario
would for the first U.S. port visit to Aden since the 2000
USS Cole attack would be as part of a joint U.S.-Yemen
maritime activity or exercise.

--------------
Coast Guard Making A Difference
--------------


4. (C) Both Alaiwa and Alimi expressed their gratitude to
VADM Nichols for U.S. assistance to the Yemen Coast Guard,
noting that the force is already having a positive effect on
combating smuggling and increasing coastal security. "We
hope our cooperation with the U.S. in developing a coast
guard will lead to an end to illegal immigration," commented
Alimi, "as this is a major economic and security problem for
Yemen." Alaiwa, as usual, did not miss an opportunity to
push for greater U.S. involvement in Somalia, complaining
that Somali refugees in particular were a major drain on ROYG
resources.


5. (C) Yemen Coast Guard Commander General Ali Rasa told VADM
that the YCG was now ready to move into territorial waters,
but needed 25-30 meter boats to supplement YCG classroom work
with practical training. He also requested USG help in
surveying Bir Ali Island to determine a location for a coast
guard station, implying that the YCG has given up on plans to
build at Safir Port (ref A.)
Krajeski