NZ MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PSI "LEADING

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000482 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR D (FRITZ),EAP/FO, EAP/ANP, AND ISN/CPI NSC FOR VICTOR CHA SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD LIZ PHU PACOM FOR JO1E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS NZ SUBJECT: NZ MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PSI "LEADING EDGE" EXERCISE Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) This message contains an action request, at para 4. ¶2. (C) On June 22, Pol-Econ Couns was called into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) by Michael Swain, Deputy Director of the Security Policy Division, and Nik Green, Policy Officer. Swain explained that GNZ officials remain unable to confirm attendance at the US-hosted PSI table top exercise "Leading Edge" later this year. The officials hope to attend, but have not yet completed their country's national action plan, which they believe is a prerequisite for the exercise. Without the plan, New Zealand is unclear on which ministry has legal authority to perform various aspects of the events that will be simulated in the exercise. ¶3. (C) Noting that the U.S. side had asked New Zealand to confirm its attendance in "Leading Edge" by May 31, Swain said that it was unlikely New Zealand would have its action plan in place before August. GNZ wonders if it could confirm its attendance at that time. Swain and Green also stressed that GNZ remains completely committed to the success of PSI even if New Zealand is unable to participate in "Leading Edge," either because it has missed the response deadline or because the NZ national action plan will not be completed in time. Swain added that GNZ is taking its signals from us on what it needs to do to be successful in PSI. It would be helpful for GNZ to know whether in fact US officials believe the action plan is necessary for the exercise. Swain said that NZ Embassy officials in Washington are also passing this message through OSD. ¶4. (C) Action Request: Please advise post whether or not the national action plan is a prerequisite for the "Leading Edge" exercise as well as whether GNZ still has time to respond positively to the invitation to participate. McCormick