BAHRAINI LEADERSHIP WELCOMES NEW NAVCENT/FIFTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000370 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017 TAGS: PREL MOPS BA REGION OFFICIALS SUBJECT: BAHRAINI LEADERSHIP WELCOMES NEW NAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET COMMANDER REF: MANAMA 356 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reasons: 1.4 (B)(D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In a series of introductory calls with the Bahraini leadership, NAVCENT/Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Cosgriff heard a consistent message of support for Bahrain's long-standing relationship with the U.S. Navy and Bahrain's commitment to continued future support. "You can always count on us as your friend and ally," stressed Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid. Shaikh Khalid indicated that Bahrain would soon respond positively to the USG invitation to Bahrain to join the PSI Operational Experts Group. Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa suggested that our two countries revive the Military Planning Committee Working Group, which has not met since 2003, to update planning on terrorism scenarios. Concern about Iran was a second major theme of the discussions, with all interlocutors worrying about the Iranian threat to Bahrain and the region. -------------- VICE ADMIRAL MEETS THE BAHRAIN LEADERSHIP -------------- ¶2. (C) Over the last two weeks, newly-arrived NAVCENT/Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, accompanied by Ambassador, carried out a series of introductory calls on Bahrain's senior leadership, expressing his appreciation for the long and continuing support that the U.S. Navy has received from the government and people of Bahrain, and looking forward to continuing close cooperation during his stay in Bahrain. This cable summarizes Vice Admiral Cosgriff's discussions with Crown Prince Shaikh Salman, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak, Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid, and Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid. Reftel reported on his meeting with King Hamad. -------------- -------------- STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR U.S. PRESENCE IN THE REGION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) All of Admiral Cosgriff's interlocutors praised the long and positive role that the U.S. Navy has played in Bahrain and the Gulf. The Crown Prince expressed pride in Bahrain's long relationship with the United States, stating: "We need you here, and stand ready to assist you." The Prime Minister hailed the long-term continuity of the relationship, contrasting it to the British who "one day said they were in the Gulf for the long haul and two days later announced that they were leaving." DPM Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak said that the Bahraini people understand that the U.S. presence here is for the good of the region. "People should not criticize the U.S. for being here," he stated. "They should remember that the U.S. is here at the invitation of the countries of the region." ¶4. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid wished Admiral Cosgriff full success during his stay in Bahrain, stressing that the U.S. "can always count on us as your friend and ally," He observed that prosperity and security in the region is not just the responsibility of the U.S., but also of the countries of the Gulf, which is why we must stand together. In that connection, he welcomed more joint military exercises and said that, having consulted with the Ministry of Defense, he expected to forward to the Embassy soon a positive response to the U.S. invitation for Bahrain to participate in the PSI Operational Experts Group. ¶5. (C) Further on the question of cooperation, Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa suggested that our two countries schedule a meeting of the Military Planning Committee Working Group, which has not met since October 2003. Shaikh Khalifa said it could be useful for this working group to plan for contingencies and review possible terrorism scenarios. He said that Bahrain would like to do joint exercises with the U.S. to enhance force protection and defend against potential terror threats, especially against the base. In a similar vein, Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid, noting that his ministry was participating in a major consequence managementQ exercise at the Navy base next week, praised the well-established and close cooperation with the U.S. Navy. All doors are open, he stated. He fondly recalled when Bahrain had hosted Eagle Resolve under the Cooperative Defense Initiative (when he was at the Ministry of Defense), MANAMA 00000370 002 OF 002 and wished Bahrain could host such a multilateral consequence management event again. (Comment: Qatar will be hosting it this year for the third year in a row; now that Shaikh Rashid is at Ministry of Interior, Eagle Resolve is not directly in his lane to host. End comment). -------------- SECURITY/NAVY DEPENDENTS -------------- ¶6. (C) The Crown Prince, observing that "we went through a tough period" with the departure of the Navy dependents in 2004, expressed hope that dependents could return and gave a strong endorsement for the Bahrain School, noting that he has two children at the school and has a strong personal interest in the school's success and security. Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid stressed the importance he places on "keeping you safe." Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed recalled the positive role that Navy families had played in Bahrain, and said "people want them here." -------------- CONCERN ABOUT IRAN -------------- ¶7. (C) A common theme in all of the meetings was continuing concern about Iran and its intentions. DPM Shaikh Mohammed said flatly that "Iran is a threat to the region. When a country puts a higher priority on developing its military than on developing its economy, I don't trust it. We've seen it before, with Egypt, Libya, and Iraq, and now with Iran." He noted that the economies of all of the countries of the Gulf are booming except one -- Iran, whose economy is deteriorating. Iran is a neighbor, so Bahrain wishes it well. "You can change your friends," he said, "but not your neighbors." He added that, concerns about Iran's intentions notwithstanding, Bahrain does not advocate the use of force. This is a UN issue, he stated, and Bahrain hopes the UN and the international community will take the necessary steps to resolve the issue. ¶8. (C) The Prime Minister touched on Iran briefly, noting his lack of trust of the Iranians by saying that Iran reaches out with one hand in friendship while going behind your back to others with the other hand. Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid stated that it is incumbent on Iran to change its policy. Transparency by the Iranians on the nuclear issue is paramount, he stressed. ¶9. (C) Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid said that he was struck, during his March visit to Washington, how in every office he visited - State, FBI, CIA, Navy -- there was such heavy focus in his discussions on the threat from Iran. "For us," he said, "Iran has always been the number one threat." Bahrain does not trust Iran, he stated, and has to be prepared for attempts by Iran to disturb the peace inside Bahrain. He expressed concern about Iranians moving money out of Iran through Bahrain, and vowed that the Bahraini government would be active in implementing UN resolutions to prevent this. While he expressed concern about the role of the Shia mullahs in Iran (he called them the real "generals"),he said that this was not an Iranian or Shia threat, but in fact a Persian threat -- meaning it has always been the Persian ambition to control the Gulf. ¶10. (C) The Crown Prince urged that the U.S. Navy (and the USG) stand strong in deterring the Iranians. He expressed concern about the situation in Iraq, and urged that the U.S. focus hard on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying that progress on that front can be a real catalyst for changing the situation in the Middle East. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE