SPAIN: MISSILE DEFENSE OUTREACH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000512 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE; EUR/PRA - MAZEVEDO; EUR/PPD - TCORN; AND VCI/MDSP - STEVEN ROSENKRANTZ NSC FOR MAHAYWARD PENTAGON FOR MDA - NANCY MORGAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: MISSILE DEFENSE OUTREACH REF: A. SECSTATE 30480 ¶B. MADRID 395 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) Post is engaging the GOS on missile defense as requested in ref A. DCM raised the issue with MFA political director Dezcallar on March 2, as described in ref B. Dezcallar said that Spain has no objection to the program but expressed concern that Russia had not been sufficiently consulted. DCM's explanation of the USG's extensive consultation with Russia and others satisfied Dezcallar. ¶2. (U) Local press coverage has been limited to repeating German wire reports. Post is not aware of any GOS statements on the issue. Considering these circumstances, post believes that the most effective outreach strategy at the moment will focus on the government and opinion makers. ¶3. (SBU) Post is arranging meetings with top GOS officials for Missile Defense Agency Deputy Director Patrick O'Reilly and his team on 29-30 March. General O'Reilly will brief the GOS on both the plan itself and the consultations that the US undertook to explain the plan to Russia and others. If logistics allow, post will organize an outreach event in which General O'Reilly would speak to opinion makers outside the government. ¶4. (U) Embassy Madrid's POC for missile defense policy is Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick. Embassy spokesman John Law would coordinate press outreach if appropriate. Aguirre