ARGENTINA-U.S. POLITICAL-MILITARY CONSULTATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002838 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL PARM AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA-U.S. POLITICAL-MILITARY CONSULTATIONS Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Summary: The United States and Argentina held a successful round of political-military bilateral consultations on December 15, 2006 in Buenos Aires. Both delegations shared their foreign policy principles and objectives. The Argentine delegation explained their government's goals for civil-military relations, Argentine armed forces transformation, and the impact these changes are having on the conduct of Argentine foreign policy. The United States delegation shared U.S. experiences with attempting to better coordinate foreign and defense policy across the interagency community, and provided the Argentines with a brief of transformational changes underway. Regional and global peacekeeping training initiatives and operations were discussed, with a particular eye to the ongoing efforts in and needs of Haiti. The United States delegation spoke to military-to-military relations, specifically of the need to reframe the dialogue on SOFA, and to secure enablers of expanded military-to-military engagement. The consultations drew to a close with a discussion of various non-proliferation topics, including 3 1 Talks follow-up, the Proliferation Security Initiative, and the U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement. The day concluded with DAS Coulter's invitation to the Argentines to participate in the next round of pol-mil talks late 2007 in Washington, DC. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The United States and Argentine delegations were led respectively by Michael Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and Ambassador Elsa Kelly, Director of the Office of International Security, Nuclear and Space Affairs within Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. delegation included representatives from PM, WHA, the Embassy, OSD, and SOUTHCOM. The Argentine delegation included representatives from the MFA and MOD. -------------- Opening Remarks -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne, in introducing DAS Coulter, noted the multidimensional aspect of hemispheric security and that the threats and challenges facing the Americas in the 21st century require political, economic, social, environmental and military responses. He stated that an effective response required coordinated, cooperative and multilateral efforts on the part of the region's governments, and that the U.S. was committed to an inter-American security agenda that promotes prosperity and equity within our countries and cooperation and stability among them. DAS Coulter opened the U.S.-Argentina bilateral consultations by outlining U.S. perspectives on changing security challenges and Secretary Rice's Transformational Diplomacy initiative -- both of which call for increase security cooperation with our international partners. Ambassador Elsa Kelly, MFA Director of International Security, Nuclear and Space Affairs (DIGAN), echoed DAS Coulter's comments in relation to changes going on within Argentina and called for the best possible relationship with the United States. Ambassador Kelly explained the underlying principles of Argentina's foreign policy principles, focusing on democracy and human rights, economic development, multilateralism and international law, protection of the environment and natural resources, and the fight against terrorism and drugs, all of which drive Argentine foreign policy objectives. ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Kelly reflected upon Argentina's history with military intervention, and the emphasis the Argentine government places on full civilian control of the armed forces. The Argentine Armed Forces have a very limited and restricted role in internal security, the fight against terrorism, or in any of the "new" threats that law enforcement officials are better prepared to address. The MFA-MOD are entering a stage where communication and cooperation are increasing, and interest was expressed for a frank exchange with the U.S. delegation to learn from our experience with interagency coordination. Acting OSD DASD for WHA Caryn Hollis noted the roles and missions as defined by the Argentine government mirror those of the United States Government, where U.S. armed services also have restricted domestic roles. However, in times of humanitarian crisis, such as Hurricane Katrina, the armed forces are called upon to provide support to civil authorities. These emergency requirements reveal that the United States is also working on interagency-defense coordination. DAS Coulter observed that the GWOT is very much an interagency effort, rather than being led solely by DOD. -------------- Peacekeeping -------------- ¶5. (SBU) MFA Director for International Organizations (DIOIN) Ambassador Raul Ricardes briefed on Argentine peacekeeping operations and policy. The GOA currently has approximately 1000 troops in peacekeeping operations worldwide. Their emphasis is on regional peacekeeping and peacebuilding, noting that the former is being put into action, while the latter still needs to be further developed. Delegation officials stated a need for more law enforcement-type organizations, i.e. coast guard, urban police and customs/border protection. Reconstruction and the internal security of the Haitian state, working under the umbrella of the UN, is the next phase to which the international community must commit itself. DAS Coulter lauded GOA peacekeeping efforts and noted his good impression of Argentina's CAECOPAZ Peacekeeping training facility visited the day prior. He stressed strong United States Government support for peacekeeping, and he pointed out that this support takes many forms: peacekeepers, support to the UN, training-and-equipping of partners, Global Peace Operations Initiative, and political support. Ambassador Kelly noted that peacekeeping must involve non-military elements, e.g. police and aid workers, and proposed the idea of a working group of countries with a presence in Haiti to determine how best to present the needs of Haitian development and reconstruction to the UN. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Kelly requested USG ideas and support on how best to present the standing up of the Argentina-Chile binational peacekeeping force before the UN. Ambassador Kelly, again emphasizing the requirement for a UN mandate for peace operations, expressed her appreciation for U.S. support, and noted that the Argentina-Chile binational force would be an important force for bilateral cooperation. -------------- Regional Security -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador Kelly called for greater consideration of Latin American points of view regarding regional security challenges and threat assessment. She said that Argentina has redefined its own threats, and now focuses on cooperating, rather than competing, with its neighbors through means of confidence and security building measures and jointly exploring ways to combat illicit activities and proliferation of WMD. Vice Minister of Defense Jose Vazquez-Ocampo explained that Argentina's new policies are based on a defensive posture. This new defense policy is focused on transparency, multilateralism, protection of citizens, natural resources and territorial integrity, and joint force cooperation and interoperability. DAS Coulter asked how sub-regional and multilateral integration becomes a reality, to which Ambassador Kelly replied that binational forces with Chile, and potentially Brazil and Uruguay, would be stood up and put at the disposal of the UN. Argentina's priorities, in order, are border countries, the Southern Cone, and South America. ¶8. (C) The GOA viewed the 7th Defense Ministerial of the Americas as a turning point that will eventually lead to a policy of non-supremacy and strict multilateralism. DAS Coulter conveyed his satisfaction with the DMA VII and support of the Nicaraguan proposal of developing a concrete action plan leading into the DMA VIII, to be held next year in Ottawa. Caryn Hollis commented that U.S. defense policy follows the lead of the State Department and NSC, and that the Department of Defense directly supports the President's goals. Hollis raised the proposal made by former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to hold a sub-regional meeting of the Southern Cone MODs and the U.S. Secretary of Defense. This would mirror the October 2005 Central America-United States MOD meeting that addressed sub-regional issues. Ambassador Kelly responded favorably to the concept and took the idea for consideration. Dr. Leonardo Hekimian mentioned that the Bilateral Working Group (BWG-OSD and the Argentine MOD consultations) would be meeting in early March and that these issues should be discussed as part of the agenda. ¶9. (C) Following Vice Minister Vazquez Ocampo's presentation, COL Bob Ballew from the OSD Transformation Office provided a well-received brief on the DOD transformation strategy. The Argentine delegation noted that the briefing, in demonstrating the need for DOD transformation, was particularly relevant to the Argentine MOD, as the Argentine military is transforming its armed forces to better address future challenges. ¶10. (C) Concerning military-to-military relations, DAS Coulter spoke of a desire to reframe the discussion, with the intention of creatively seeking enablers to increase cooperation. Ambassador Kelly commented on the name and immunities issues relating to UNITAS, and spoke of moving the exercise beyond its Cold War creation, something which would have to be discussed at the MOD level. Ambassador Kelly opined that joint military exercises should focus on interoperability and confidence building, while United States Embassy Milgroup commander COL Napoli thought information exchange was also of significant utility. Kelly noted that GOA granting of immunities is complicated by the need for congressional authorization and the lack of reciprocity. DAS Coulter explained that a SOFA should be viewed as a tool for enabling greater cooperation, not as an obstacle, while the GOA would still retain the right to approve an exercise. MOD Chief of Staff Raul Garre said the Minister is considering United States Government invitations to visit the United States Air Force Academy (issues relating to integration of women into the military),SOUTHCOM (invited by ADM Stavridis),and WHINSEC (issues relating to the current curriculum being taught in this school). -------------- Global Security -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Ambassador Kelly stated that the GOA takes issues of global security, particularly non-proliferation, very seriously. DAS Coulter applauded the role Argentina plays in the IAEA, PSI and the UNSC, and encouraged continued Argentine support of these institutions. Ambassador Kelly touched on the productive discussions coming out of the recent 3 1 meeting held in Buenos Aires December 4-5 (annual meeting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and the United States to discuss anti-terrorism cooperation and related issues in the Tri-Border Area),noted the good bilateral cooperation with the United States, and stated that the GOA is prepared to do all it can to help the fight against terrorism. She noted that the GOA has ratified 12 UN conventions concerning terrorism, has adopted domestic implementing legislation, and asked for USG recognition of their efforts. ¶12. (C) Ambassador Kelly voiced concern over the United States-India nuclear agreement, stating apprehension over the potential consequences establishing such a precedent, and frank GOA disagreement over the deal. She said that the GOA seeks worldwide compromise on nuclear disarmament and would like to know how the United States plans on moving this forward. -------------- Closing Remarks and Sidebars -------------- ¶13. (U) DAS Coulter closed the consultations for the United States by expressing hope that this is just the beginning of a continued productive dialogue, one that the U.S. hopes to see continued next year in Washington, DC. Ambassador Kelly conveyed a similar sentiment and emphasized the need to continue to look for means of increasing the dialogue and exchanges among the MFA and MOD and their counterparts at DOS and DOD, thanking the United States delegation for making the trip, and closed the consultations to a round of applause. ¶14. (C) Side conversations: The GOA delegation did not wish to discuss Afghanistan or DOD treatment of Latin America under a homeland security rubric during the official bilats, but the issues were discussed over lunch. The GOA delegation expressed concern with "homeland security" and the perception of Argentina and Latin America being viewed only through that lens. DAS Coulter and DASD(A) Hollis addressed these concerns. DAS Coulter raised the idea of GOA support in Afghanistan, possibly through a PRT, taking advantage of GOA experience in Haiti. The GOA delegation expressed preference for UN operations, but agreed to continue the dialogue. (Comment: Both political cover and salary reimbursement of UN operations are likely a desirable to the GOA.) ¶15. (U) Comment: Much of the discussion centered on identifying both common goals and areas of disagreement, enabling mechanisms for joint military engagement, and peacekeeping operational needs. Both sides were pleased overall with the consultations. ¶16. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Coulter. WAYNE