Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID1897
2006-07-27 11:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN CONCERNED ABOUT GIBRALTAR SHIP VISIT
how-toVZCZCXRO2727 PP RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #1897 2081146 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271146Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0369 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0727 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 1991
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001897
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUCOM FOR NAVEUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP GI
SUBJECT: SPAIN CONCERNED ABOUT GIBRALTAR SHIP VISIT
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001897
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUCOM FOR NAVEUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP GI
SUBJECT: SPAIN CONCERNED ABOUT GIBRALTAR SHIP VISIT
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: On July 26, a top Foreign Ministry
official called the Ambassador on orders from his minister to
register Spain's concern with the upcoming visit of a US
nuclear-powered submarine to Gibraltar. The GOS did not
specifically request cancellation of the visit, but suggested
that it would be easier on everyone if the sub were to stop
at the nearby Spanish base at Rota instead of Gibraltar. The
Ambassador replied that, while Gibraltar issues are handled
by Embassy London, he would pass the message. He also said
that it is a routine port visit, families are already on
their way to meet the crew, no repairs are scheduled, and the
visit is likely to go forward as planned. END SUMMARY.
2. (C/NF) MFA DG for Europe and North American Jose Pons
called the Ambassador on July 26 to discuss the upcoming
visit of a US submarine to Gibraltar. Prior to this call,
the Spanish navy summoned the Defense Attache to discuss the
same issue. An informal approach was also made via the
Spain-US Permanent Committee (which implements the bilateral
defense treaty). In addition, press and military staff from
the British Embassy contacted their counterparts in Embassy
Madrid to alert us that a nuclear submarine visit to
Gibraltar was likely to become a public issue for us, as it
usually is for them. (COMMENT. The British confided,
however, that they were delighted the US submarine would
visit take place. END COMMENT.)
3. (C/NF) Pons told the Ambassador that he was calling on
orders from Minister Moratinos to register Spain's concern
with the impending visit of a US nuclear submarine to
Gibraltar. He did not formally request a cancellation or
change of the visit. Pons said that pierside submarine visits
at Gibraltar routinely cause public protests by environmental
groups. He said protests could be avoided simply by moving
the port visit to the nearby Spanish base at Rota, where the
visit would be simpler and more discreet.
4. (C/NF) The Ambassador reminded Pons that he has no
authority over issues related to Gibraltar, which is an issue
for Spain and the UK to resolve. He reassured Pons that this
port visit has no political significance, but is simply a
routine stop at a port that the US Navy routinely visits.
The Ambassador told Pons that the EUCOM had made this
decision and was unlikely to change it at this late date
because preparations are set and families already have
tickets to Gibraltar to visit crew members. (NOTE. The last
pierside US submarine visit was in July 2004. US submarines
routinely stop at Gibraltar at anchorage to exchange
personnel without pulling up to the pier. The GOS has raised
no concern about these visits, nor about the pierside visits
of US surface ships. END NOTE.)
5. (C/NF) Contacts from the British Embassy in Madrid told us
that they get calls from MFA, the press, and environmental
groups each time that a British nuclear submarine visits
Gibraltar, approximately quarterly. These visits have been a
particular issue since the British submarine Tireless spent
several months in Gibraltar in 2000 for repairs to its
nuclear propulsion system. Although there was no problem,
and in fact the repairs did not directly involve nuclear
components, public concern stemmed from the potential risk of
exposure to nuclear material in the event of an accident. In
the wake of that incident, Spain and Britain negotiated an
agreement confirming that British ships would continue to
visit Gibraltar and that the British would keep the GOS
well-informed of ship visits.
6. (C/NF) COMMENT. The US Navy should continue to send ships
to Gibraltar as appropriate. At the same time, it is
important to remember that Gibraltar is a sensitive issue for
both Britain and Spain in which the US maintains careful
neutrality. Because of this political context, it is
important to consider the timing of ship visits. Embassy
Madrid appreciates the opportunity to be informed well in
advance of planned port visits in order to provide the most
effective advice to military leaders.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUCOM FOR NAVEUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP GI
SUBJECT: SPAIN CONCERNED ABOUT GIBRALTAR SHIP VISIT
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: On July 26, a top Foreign Ministry
official called the Ambassador on orders from his minister to
register Spain's concern with the upcoming visit of a US
nuclear-powered submarine to Gibraltar. The GOS did not
specifically request cancellation of the visit, but suggested
that it would be easier on everyone if the sub were to stop
at the nearby Spanish base at Rota instead of Gibraltar. The
Ambassador replied that, while Gibraltar issues are handled
by Embassy London, he would pass the message. He also said
that it is a routine port visit, families are already on
their way to meet the crew, no repairs are scheduled, and the
visit is likely to go forward as planned. END SUMMARY.
2. (C/NF) MFA DG for Europe and North American Jose Pons
called the Ambassador on July 26 to discuss the upcoming
visit of a US submarine to Gibraltar. Prior to this call,
the Spanish navy summoned the Defense Attache to discuss the
same issue. An informal approach was also made via the
Spain-US Permanent Committee (which implements the bilateral
defense treaty). In addition, press and military staff from
the British Embassy contacted their counterparts in Embassy
Madrid to alert us that a nuclear submarine visit to
Gibraltar was likely to become a public issue for us, as it
usually is for them. (COMMENT. The British confided,
however, that they were delighted the US submarine would
visit take place. END COMMENT.)
3. (C/NF) Pons told the Ambassador that he was calling on
orders from Minister Moratinos to register Spain's concern
with the impending visit of a US nuclear submarine to
Gibraltar. He did not formally request a cancellation or
change of the visit. Pons said that pierside submarine visits
at Gibraltar routinely cause public protests by environmental
groups. He said protests could be avoided simply by moving
the port visit to the nearby Spanish base at Rota, where the
visit would be simpler and more discreet.
4. (C/NF) The Ambassador reminded Pons that he has no
authority over issues related to Gibraltar, which is an issue
for Spain and the UK to resolve. He reassured Pons that this
port visit has no political significance, but is simply a
routine stop at a port that the US Navy routinely visits.
The Ambassador told Pons that the EUCOM had made this
decision and was unlikely to change it at this late date
because preparations are set and families already have
tickets to Gibraltar to visit crew members. (NOTE. The last
pierside US submarine visit was in July 2004. US submarines
routinely stop at Gibraltar at anchorage to exchange
personnel without pulling up to the pier. The GOS has raised
no concern about these visits, nor about the pierside visits
of US surface ships. END NOTE.)
5. (C/NF) Contacts from the British Embassy in Madrid told us
that they get calls from MFA, the press, and environmental
groups each time that a British nuclear submarine visits
Gibraltar, approximately quarterly. These visits have been a
particular issue since the British submarine Tireless spent
several months in Gibraltar in 2000 for repairs to its
nuclear propulsion system. Although there was no problem,
and in fact the repairs did not directly involve nuclear
components, public concern stemmed from the potential risk of
exposure to nuclear material in the event of an accident. In
the wake of that incident, Spain and Britain negotiated an
agreement confirming that British ships would continue to
visit Gibraltar and that the British would keep the GOS
well-informed of ship visits.
6. (C/NF) COMMENT. The US Navy should continue to send ships
to Gibraltar as appropriate. At the same time, it is
important to remember that Gibraltar is a sensitive issue for
both Britain and Spain in which the US maintains careful
neutrality. Because of this political context, it is
important to consider the timing of ship visits. Embassy
Madrid appreciates the opportunity to be informed well in
advance of planned port visits in order to provide the most
effective advice to military leaders.
AGUIRRE