EL SALVADOR: INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001530 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS REF: A. BAGHDAD 1786 ¶B. STATE 63163 Classified By: Acting DCM Jessica Webster, Reasons 1.4 (A),(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Poloff discussed reftel B talking points June 9 with MFA's Director for Asia, Africa and Oceania Affairs, Milton Magana, who indicated that he would discuss the matter with representatives of the Ministry of Defense. ¶2. (C) Comment: As outlined in reftel A, at a May 24 meeting with U.S. officials at Embassy Baghdad, Salvadoran Minister of Defense Romero was receptive to the idea of El Salvador's Cuscatlan Battalion supporting a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Al-Kut, but indicated that further consultations would be required before any commitment could be made. Embassy will continue to raise the issue through MFA, MOD, and others in GOES. Barclay