Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES1061
2006-05-10 20:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
EXPANDING PSI IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
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UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001061
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PTER KNUC AR
SUBJECT: EXPANDING PSI IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
REF: BUENOS AIRES 621
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001061
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PTER KNUC AR
SUBJECT: EXPANDING PSI IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
REF: BUENOS AIRES 621
1. (U) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Because of the relative
difficulty of regional participation in global Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI) events, post requests that the
Department and Washington agencies consider establishing a
Western Hemisphere PSI Operational Experts Group (OEG) by the
end of 2006, and scheduling more regional PSI exercises. A
regional PSI focus would train current PSI members in the
hemisphere, attract future PSI members, and contribute to
overall military-military cooperation in the region. END
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST.
2. (U) Argentina remains the only country in South America to
have endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles
(in March 2005). Elsewhere in the region, post is aware of
only Belize, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and the
U.S. as PSI participants.
3. (U) Despite its relative isolation, Argentina has involved
itself as much as possible in PSI over the last two years.
It attended PSI's first anniversary meeting in Krakow (June
2004),sent observers to Operation Choke Point (November
2004) and Exploring Themis (November 2005),and participated
in Pacific Protector (April 2006). Most recently it sent an
interagency delegation to the April 11-12 OEG meeting in
Miami. A complete history of Argentina's involvement in PSI
can be found in ref. A,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>
4. (U) However, for smaller countries like Argentina (and
elsewhere in the region),full participation is constrained
by tight government budgets in general and very tight
military spending in particular. This especially applies to
events that are well outside the region. The ability of the
GOA to participate in a given meeting or exercise is directly
related to its distance from Argentina.
5. (U) Short of USG funding for PSI participants (which post
understands is not an option),one solution would be to
create a Western Hemisphere OEG. Another would be more
frequent scheduling of regional PSI exercises. These steps
would offer the opportunity for current PSI countries in the
region to keep abreast of WMD interdiction best practices, as
well as increase the likelihood that other countries in the
hemisphere would sign up to PSI. As an important secondary
effect, an increased tempo of PSI meetings and exercises in
the region would help achieve our broader military goal of
developing the region's respective armed forces into
coalition-capable partners.
GUTIERREZ
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PTER KNUC AR
SUBJECT: EXPANDING PSI IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
REF: BUENOS AIRES 621
1. (U) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Because of the relative
difficulty of regional participation in global Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI) events, post requests that the
Department and Washington agencies consider establishing a
Western Hemisphere PSI Operational Experts Group (OEG) by the
end of 2006, and scheduling more regional PSI exercises. A
regional PSI focus would train current PSI members in the
hemisphere, attract future PSI members, and contribute to
overall military-military cooperation in the region. END
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST.
2. (U) Argentina remains the only country in South America to
have endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles
(in March 2005). Elsewhere in the region, post is aware of
only Belize, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and the
U.S. as PSI participants.
3. (U) Despite its relative isolation, Argentina has involved
itself as much as possible in PSI over the last two years.
It attended PSI's first anniversary meeting in Krakow (June
2004),sent observers to Operation Choke Point (November
2004) and Exploring Themis (November 2005),and participated
in Pacific Protector (April 2006). Most recently it sent an
interagency delegation to the April 11-12 OEG meeting in
Miami. A complete history of Argentina's involvement in PSI
can be found in ref. A,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>
4. (U) However, for smaller countries like Argentina (and
elsewhere in the region),full participation is constrained
by tight government budgets in general and very tight
military spending in particular. This especially applies to
events that are well outside the region. The ability of the
GOA to participate in a given meeting or exercise is directly
related to its distance from Argentina.
5. (U) Short of USG funding for PSI participants (which post
understands is not an option),one solution would be to
create a Western Hemisphere OEG. Another would be more
frequent scheduling of regional PSI exercises. These steps
would offer the opportunity for current PSI countries in the
region to keep abreast of WMD interdiction best practices, as
well as increase the likelihood that other countries in the
hemisphere would sign up to PSI. As an important secondary
effect, an increased tempo of PSI meetings and exercises in
the region would help achieve our broader military goal of
developing the region's respective armed forces into
coalition-capable partners.
GUTIERREZ