PORTUGAL INTERESTED IN MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001078

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL INTERESTED IN MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS

REF: LISBON 550

Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials were
grateful to receive the fact sheets developed by EUR/PPD and
EUR/PRA on the proposed U.S. missile defense system in
conjunction with Poland and the Czech Republic. Security and
Disarmament Affairs Deputy Director Pedro Sousa Abreu, who
has direct responsibility for non-proliferation and missile
issues, told us that the Portuguese share our concerns and
that Portugal will &convey the right messages8 to the
Russians, including at the European Union ministerial troika
meeting in Brussels next week. Sousa Abreu expressed a keen
interest in USG plans to engage European allies and partners
on the issue.


2. (U) Sousa Abreu noted that officials from his embassy in
Washington would attend a meeting with their Czech
counterparts April 19 to discuss the missile defense system.
He appreciated that the proposed system would complement
current NATO plans and expressed an interest in how and when
ballistic missile defense discussions would be raised within
NATO structures. As Portugal assumes the presidency of the
European Union in July, Sousa Abreu also asked if the USG
intended to approach EU capitals to explain our views.

Comment
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3. (C) Portugal has concerns regarding the Middle East and
with Russia that match our own, so this issue offers an
opportunity for Portugal,s quiet diplomacy to be helpful,
particularly within European Union structures. Informally,
Sousa Abreu suggested that criticism of the proposal by
&certain EU allies8 stemmed from other issues, rather than
any careful analysis of the proposal itself.
Hoffman