NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE VOTE - SPANISH MAKE FINAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002092

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JCS FOR CHAIRMAN, USNATO FOR AMBASSADOR NULAND, OSD FOR
DASD FATA, USEUCOM FOR COMMANDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR SP
SUBJECT: NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE VOTE - SPANISH MAKE FINAL
PLEA


Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDUARDO AGUIRRE, JR. REASONS 1.4B AND D.


1. (C) DCM met November 7 with Secretary of State for Defense
Policy Luis Cuesta. Cuesta raised the CHOD Sanz' candidacy
for Chair of the NATO Military Committee, noting that all
three countries seeking the post -- Italy, Poland, and Spain
-- had much to recommend them. However, he noted that Italy,
as a NATO member since its creation, had held the post
previously, as well as other important NATO positions.
Poland, a country still in transition, was a newcomer to
NATO. Spain, on the other hand, had over two decades of
solid participation in NATO but had never held the chair.
Cuesta said Spain and Sanz were strong backers of NATO, the
NATO Response Force concept (to which Spain is a major troop
provider) and the NATO effort in Afghanistan. He highlighted
Sanz' leadership on all those issues. Cuesta added that with
France moving closer to the alliance and change no doubt
coming, this was the moment for a proven leader such as Sanz.



2. (C) Comment: While we cannot compare the relative merits
of the three candidates, this Embassy can say that Cuesta is
absolutely right about Sanz' commitment to NATO and to the
increased constructive engagement of Spain internationally.
Sanz is pro-U.S. and would work well with us as chairman.
Moreover, his election would do much to persuade the Spanish
public that this country has an important role to play in
international security affairs.
AGUIRRE