U/S BURNS' 12/4 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 001744 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y -- ADDED TEXT TO SUBJECT SIPDIS STATE FOR P, NEA-I, SA, ISN AND EAP PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS KNNP PREL AS SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' 12/4 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER FITZGIBBON REF: A. STATE 162558 ¶B. CANBERRA 1717 (NOTAL) CANBERRA 00001744 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Under Secretary Nicholas Burns, accompanied by the Ambassador, called on newly sworn-in Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon on December 4. Fitzgibbon reaffirmed the Rudd government's commitment to the alliance with the United States, asserted his government's long-term commitment to Afghanistan, and reiterated the GOA's intention to withdraw combat forces from Iraq while maintaining non-combat engagement. U/S Burns stressed that the international community needed to maintain pressure on Iran, as findings of the unclassified National Intelligence Estimates Report on Iran's nuclear weapons program indicated Iran has ongoing enrichment and reprocessing activities. Burns also flagged as a U.S. priority approval of the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal, including by the Nuclear Suppliers Group which includes Australia. End summary. -------------- U.S.-Australian Alliance -------------- ¶2. (C) Joel Fitzgibbon, a 45-year-old member of Parliament who had been sworn in December 3, the previous day, along with other cabinet members of PM Kevin Rudd's new government, stressed the importance of Australia's alliance with the United States. He offered assurances that the strong relationship between the two countries would not change under the Rudd government. U/S Burns reciprocated the sentiments, expressing confidence the United States and Australia would continue to enjoy a great relationship, despite occasionally diverging on some issues. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶3. (C) After acknowledging U/S Burns' condolences for Luke Worsley, the third Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan within the past two months, Fitzgibbon said Australia remained "absolutely committed" to its engagement in Afghanistan. Fitzgibbon described Australia's contribution to Afghanistan as "substantial," noting that Australia's involvement in Afghanistan, unlike Iraq, enjoyed broad bipartisan support. While Australia would "stay the course" in Afghanistan, he cautioned against expectations that Australia could increase its security contribution there, as the Australian Defense Force (ADF) was overstretched operationally, given its other deployments. Fitzgibbon commented on the need to look beyond the military response in Afghanistan, noting his government was considering offering arid agriculture experts and possibly deploying Australian Federal Police to counter the opium poppy trade. It was important not to deny opium cultivators their liveihoods without providing an alternative, he observed. Fitzgibbon said he planned to attend the December 13-14 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command South Ministerial in Edinburgh. QMinisterial in Edinburgh. ¶4. (C) U/S Burns provided Fitzgibbons with an update on efforts to forge greater solidarity among NATO members in Afghanistan and outreach to current or potential non-NATO contributors, including Singapore, New Zealand, and South Korea. He described plans to establish a senior civilian position, representing the UN, EU and NATO, to help bring the civilian and military efforts together in Afghanistan, and solicited Australia's support for efforts to recruit Paddy Ashdown for the position. -------------- Iraq -------------- CANBERRA 00001744 002.2 OF 003 ¶5. (C) Fitzgibbon said Iraq had been a divisive domestic issue in Australia and had strained U.S.-Australia relations. He reiterated that the Rudd government intended to withdraw the combat troops stationed in southern Iraq in 2008, emphasizing that the decision to do so was not driven by populism but by constraints on capacity. Australian forces were overstretched. Combat forces in Iraq were needed to address requirements elsewhere. Nevertheless, he noted, the GOA had recently reauthorized another six-month rotation for the 500 combat troops, until the middle of 2008. Fitzgibbon assured U/S Burns Australia wanted to work closely with the United States on this issue, and that the withdrawal of combat elements would be done in close consultation with the United States. Australia was prepared to leave in place other, non-combat forces, including air and naval units, as a demonstration of its long-term commitment to Iraq. The Rudd government was prepared to publicly remain part of the Iraq effort, he said, which would allow the United States to count Australia as part of the coalition. ¶6. (C) As an example of how overstretched the Australian Defense Force (ADF) was, Air Chief Marshal Houston observed that the ADF had deployed over 20,000 personnel to numerous contingencies over the past two years, representing almost 50 percent of its entire force. Most deployments were drawn from the Army, which was especially overstretched in the infantry and cavalry. Two Chinook helicopters -- one-third of the ADF's inventory -- were preparing to redeploy to Afghanistan, he noted. The ADF was operating at a very high operational tempo, with the equivalent of only one battalion group in reserve to handle any contingency. The ADF needed to balance its overseas deployment against regional risks. ¶7. (C) Under Secretary Burns said the United States would respect the decision of the new Rudd government on Iraq, and that the withdrawal of combat troops would not damage the friendship between the two countries. It was important to manage it in such a way, however, as to do the least damage to our efforts in Iraq. Fitzgibbon should expect to discuss this in detail with Secretary Gates. ¶8. (C) Ambassador McCallum interjected that we envisioned consultations would continue at senior levels over the coming months, perhaps culminating in a meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 2008. U/S Burns described the improved security in Iraq, citing the lowest casualty figures in 18 months. Acknowledging the possibility that the situation could reverse, he contrasted the encouraging security picture with much work remaining to be done on the political and legislative fronts. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Iraq, adding the United States welcomed any assistance other countries could provide in training, Qassistance other countries could provide in training, economic inputs and political support. -------------- Iran -------------- ¶9. (C) In a brief discussion of Iran, U/S Burns discussed Ref A demarche points on the release of the unclassified National Intelligence Estimates Report on Iran's nuclear program. (Ref B reports DFAT's response to Ref A demarche.) Burns emphasized that while the NIE assessed that Iran's nuclear weapons development had been suspended in 2003, that did not affect the need to address Iran's ongoing enrichment and reprocessing activities, which were the focus of the UN Security Council resolutions. UNSC agreement was nearing on a third resolution, he added. Fitzgibbon took the points on board, noting there was continuing pessimism in Australia over Iran, which was causing great tensions in Israel. -------------- U.S.-India Civil-Nuclear Deal -------------- ¶10. (C) U/S Burns flagged the high importance the United States attached to securing approval for the U.S.-India civil nuclear arrangement, not only in the Indian Parliament but CANBERRA 00001744 003.2 OF 003 also by consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which includes Australia. Fitzgibbon noted the Australian Labor Party, while in opposition, had opposed the Howard government's policy decision to sell uranium to India because India had not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, acknowledging the NSG issue would be a challenge for the Rudd government. U/S Burns noted this was a priority for President Bush. Australia should separate its future decision on uranium sales from the separate issue of the NSG decision. ¶11. (U) Under Secretary Burns has cleared this cable. MCCALLUM