PSI: LETTER FROM U/S JOSEPH AND EXERCISE LEADING

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004225

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR ISN, T, PM/FO, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL PHSA MNUC AE
SUBJECT: PSI: LETTER FROM U/S JOSEPH AND EXERCISE LEADING
EDGE

REFS: A) STATE 179478, B) ABU DHABI 4094 AND PREVIOUS

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel letter from U/S Joseph to MFA
Acting Under Secretary Tariq Al-Haidan under cover of a
diplomatic note. Following up on delivery of the letter,
PolChief discussed its content November 7 with our primary
interlocutor on nonproliferation issues at MFA, Director for
International Organizations Yacub Al-Hosani. Al-Hosani
appreciated the letter's practical approach to merging
implementation of UNSCR 1718 with PSI. PolChief urged active
UAE participation in PSI and ongoing vigilance on UNSCR 1718.


2. (SBU) PolChief noted the UAE's recent observation of PSI
exercise LEADING EDGE as a helpful sign of cooperation
against the threats addressed by PSI and UNSCRs 1718 and

1696. Al-Hosani requested information on the "results" of
the exercise, including after-action reports and/or lessons
learned. He said the military observers would note the
technical value of the exercise, but that other agencies and
the "political level" would benefit from information that
showed the practical value of the event, what goals had been
achieved, U.S. perceptions of lessons learned, and what
follow-on exercises were planned.


3. (SBU) Action request: In order to encourage active UAE
participation in future PSI exercises, Post requests any
post-event reporting from LEADING EDGE that we can share with
the UAEG. End action request.
SISON