Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID425
2007-03-06 17:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN: AFRICOM SHOULD ENGAGE AFRICAN UNION
how-toVZCZCXRO7325 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #0425 0651722 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061722Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2025 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2507 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0319 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000425
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/WE FOR ANGELA CERVETTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS SP XA
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AFRICOM SHOULD ENGAGE AFRICAN UNION
REF: A. STATE 14457
B. MADRID 383
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000425
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/WE FOR ANGELA CERVETTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS SP XA
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AFRICOM SHOULD ENGAGE AFRICAN UNION
REF: A. STATE 14457
B. MADRID 383
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At a meeting on a range of issues with Spanish
Director General for Foreign Policy Rafael Dezcallar on
February 2, the DCM raised the recent announcement of the
creation of U.S. Combatant Command Africa (AFRICOM) and told
Dezcallar that the U.S. would appreciate Spain's input,
advice and cooperation on this major new initiative. The DCM
told Dezcallar that AFRICOM would greatly improve the
coordination, capacity, and effectiveness of U.S. and
multilateral missions in Africa, be they military or
humanitarian. While the U.S. has no difficulty in projecting
itself strategically in Africa, the creation of AFRICOM shows
U.S. commitment to the region and will enhance our long-term
capacity. The U.S. wants Spain's input on the initiative
both because of Spanish strategic interest in Africa and
because of the impact the command could have for U.S.
military assets in Spain.
2. (C) Dezcallar thanked the DCM for the points, promised to
pass them to the Ministry of Defense for consideration and
suggested that the Embassy also contact the Director General
for Africa, Alvaro Iranzo. (NOTE: post has shared the AFRICOM
points with Iranzo and his deputy for Africa, ref B. Embassy
also delivered ref A points to MOD Deputy Director General
for Int'l Policy Enrique Perez Ramirez on February 15. Perez
Ramirez asked to be kept informed, but did not offer a
substantive response. END NOTE.) Dezcallar said he had once
visited a U.S. facility in Djibouti and had been impressed
with U.S. operations and Djibouti's strategic importance. He
said that Spain would be interested to know whether the U.S.
has coordinated this initiative with major African nations
such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa, as
AFRICOM could open the U.S. to criticism inside Africa. He
said it would be critical to have these nations on board
prior to moving forward with the command.
3. (C) Lastly, Dezcallar noted the importance of supporting
the African Union (AU). He acknowledged that the AU lacked
capacity and effectiveness at the working level while noting
that its senior leaders are excellent. Dezcallar said that
the AU is the only body that has legitimacy to enter into
certain conflicts in Africa, which means that the
international community should commit to investing in its
development as a sound international institution. A major
U.S. commitment such as AFRICOM might also compel a
reexamination of the U.S. commitment to the AU, Dezcallar
said, because investment in African institutions and
peacekeeping capabilities is the only way to bring an end to
difficult, costly and unpopular peacekeeping interventions by
Western nations.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/WE FOR ANGELA CERVETTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS SP XA
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AFRICOM SHOULD ENGAGE AFRICAN UNION
REF: A. STATE 14457
B. MADRID 383
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At a meeting on a range of issues with Spanish
Director General for Foreign Policy Rafael Dezcallar on
February 2, the DCM raised the recent announcement of the
creation of U.S. Combatant Command Africa (AFRICOM) and told
Dezcallar that the U.S. would appreciate Spain's input,
advice and cooperation on this major new initiative. The DCM
told Dezcallar that AFRICOM would greatly improve the
coordination, capacity, and effectiveness of U.S. and
multilateral missions in Africa, be they military or
humanitarian. While the U.S. has no difficulty in projecting
itself strategically in Africa, the creation of AFRICOM shows
U.S. commitment to the region and will enhance our long-term
capacity. The U.S. wants Spain's input on the initiative
both because of Spanish strategic interest in Africa and
because of the impact the command could have for U.S.
military assets in Spain.
2. (C) Dezcallar thanked the DCM for the points, promised to
pass them to the Ministry of Defense for consideration and
suggested that the Embassy also contact the Director General
for Africa, Alvaro Iranzo. (NOTE: post has shared the AFRICOM
points with Iranzo and his deputy for Africa, ref B. Embassy
also delivered ref A points to MOD Deputy Director General
for Int'l Policy Enrique Perez Ramirez on February 15. Perez
Ramirez asked to be kept informed, but did not offer a
substantive response. END NOTE.) Dezcallar said he had once
visited a U.S. facility in Djibouti and had been impressed
with U.S. operations and Djibouti's strategic importance. He
said that Spain would be interested to know whether the U.S.
has coordinated this initiative with major African nations
such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa, as
AFRICOM could open the U.S. to criticism inside Africa. He
said it would be critical to have these nations on board
prior to moving forward with the command.
3. (C) Lastly, Dezcallar noted the importance of supporting
the African Union (AU). He acknowledged that the AU lacked
capacity and effectiveness at the working level while noting
that its senior leaders are excellent. Dezcallar said that
the AU is the only body that has legitimacy to enter into
certain conflicts in Africa, which means that the
international community should commit to investing in its
development as a sound international institution. A major
U.S. commitment such as AFRICOM might also compel a
reexamination of the U.S. commitment to the AU, Dezcallar
said, because investment in African institutions and
peacekeeping capabilities is the only way to bring an end to
difficult, costly and unpopular peacekeeping interventions by
Western nations.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
AGUIRRE