GOL CONSIDERING FUTURE NRF CONTRIBUTIONS; TAPPED

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000529

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: PREL NATO LH
SUBJECT: GOL CONSIDERING FUTURE NRF CONTRIBUTIONS; TAPPED
OUT FOR CURRENT CYCLE

REF: SECSTATE 89347

Classified By: Pol/econ officer Traver Gudie for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) We delivered reftel points urging additional pledges
to the NATO Response Force (NRF) to Undersecretary of Defense
Renatas Norkus on June 6. Norkus told us he appreciates the
recently announced U.S. contributions to "rescue" the NRF and
agreed that all allies will have to contribute more to reach
and sustain full operational capacity. He said, nonetheless,
that funding constraints will prevent Lithuania from
contributing additional troops or capabilities to the current
NRF cycle. The Ministry will, however, consider NRF
contributions for later rotations (NRF 9-14). Norkus said
that Lithuania will likely offer approximately 50 Special
Operations Force personnel for NRF 10, and may be able to
continue to offer other capabilities, such as mine
countermeasures and water purification, for future NRF
rotations.


2. (C) Norkus noted that Lithuania will contribute
capabilities to NRF in accordance with the Ministry of
National Defense long-term plan for modernization. Lithuania
will not accelerate or modify its defense modernization
plans, but will make capabilities available to the NRF as the
MOD develops them within the limitations of the budget.
Norkus stressed that Lithuania believes strongly in long-term
defense planning and will be as flexible as possible to meet
Alliance needs, but also must attempt to follow a methodical
plan for defense development and modernization to best
forecast and allocate funds for Lithuania's defense
priorities. He added that Minister Kirkilas will make this
point to Secretary Rumsfeld if asked at the NATO Defense
Ministerial on June 8.


3. (C) We pointed out that the GOL's continued failure to
appropriate two percent of GDP for defense spending was
handicapping Lithuania's ability to meet this NATO need.
Norkus said that the Ministry will continue to petition the
new Lithuanian government and Parliament to raise defense
spending by 0.05% of GDP annually to reach the NATO target of
at least 2%. We noted that Lithuania anticipates defense
spending at 1.22% of GDP in 2007, and underscored that a
downward trend after a year of stagnation at 1.27% is
movement in the wrong direction. Norkus responded that the
Ministry's budget proposals will peg spending at around 1.32%
of GDP, but that ultimately the budget is in the Parliament's
hands.
MULL