SOUTHCOM COMMANDER STAVRIDIS VISITS TRINIDAD &

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000657

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL SNAR MASS MOPS TD
SUBJECT: SOUTHCOM COMMANDER STAVRIDIS VISITS TRINIDAD &
TOBAGO

REF: A) PORT OF SPAIN 581 B) STATE 89510

Classified By: DCM Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4(B) and (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY - Southcom Commander Admiral James Stavridis
visited Trinidad and Tobago June 29 for meetings with
Ambassador Austin and Embassy Senior Staff, Prime Minister
Patrick Manning, Chief of Defense Staff Edmund Dillon and his
regiment chiefs. PM Manning seemed particularly pleased with
the meeting. Admiral Stavridis, in response to PM Manning's
appeal for security assistance to the Eastern Caribbean,
promised that he would seek ways to help. The Admiral
proposed a visit by the JIATF South commander to T&T and
agreed to a US military presence at an international
security/counter-narcotics conference that PM Manning would
like to host in Port of Spain. The PM felt that visiting US
forces would be eligible for the protections afforded by the
GOTT's new Visiting Foreign Forces act. Admiral Stavridis
agreed to make available more US training slots for TT
service members. END SUMMARY

-------------- --------------
Meeting with Prime Minister Manning
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The meeting with PM Patrick Manning went very well.
Manning, who is the CARICOM head of government responsible
for security matters, greeting the Admiral warmly, saying:
&I,ve been waiting a long time for your visit.8 After a
review of measures the GOTT has taken, alone and in tandem
with other Eastern Caribbean (EC) nations to improve security
in the region (detailed in ref a),Manning appealed for USG
assistance, in cash and materiel, to help patrol the Eastern
Caribbean area. Manning said the region cannot do it all
alone, especially the smaller island states, and highlighted
the nexus between increased drug trafficking and the
escalating crime that is currently plaguing the region. The
PM mentioned his recent meeting to this purpose with the
ambassadors of the US, France, and the Netherlands, and the
UK high commissioner, all representatives of countries that
have military assets in the region.


3. (C) Admiral Stavridis praised Manning,s explanation of
the issue and his vision in proposing solutions. The Admiral
referred indirectly to the lack of an Article 98 agreement
with T&T, saying that the USG was restricted in offering
certain types of assistance but stressed that he would find
ways to help with counter narcotics and counter terror issues
and promised to send a message via Ambassador Austin with
more formal proposals. He also promised to consult with the
head of JIATF South in Key West, Rear Admiral Joseph Nimmich,
and proposed a meeting for him and his staff with senior T&T
national security and military officials to see which assets
could be brought to bear in the joint counter-narcotics
effort. The Admiral suggested a regional conference that
could be held at JIATF South in Key West. Manning quickly
agreed to the conference idea but said that he would prefer
to host it here in Port of Spain. The Admiral agreed.


4. (C) PM Manning emphasized that, in addition to the
Eastern Caribbean nations already discussed, fellow CARICOM
members Jamaica, Belize, Guyana, and Suriname should all be a
part of any broader security arrangements agreed upon between
the US and CARICOM. He specifically excluded Haiti, however,
saying that it was a case apart. He mentioned once again the
&Caribbean shiprider8 agreement (ref a) that like-minded
CARICOM nations would be signing at the CARICOM head of
government meeting in Barbados July 1 ) 4. He also added
that CARICOM nations would be signing an agreement on a
common arrest warrant.


5. (C) Admiral Stavridis then mentioned that we would be
seeking the GOTT,s permission to designate US forces
arriving in T&T to conduct training this summer as visiting
forces under the auspicies of T&T,s new Visiting Forces Act,
which affords SOFA-like protections. Post had just received
a demarche from State (ref b) on June 28 asking us to request
such permission via diplomatic note. The PM felt that
granting this status would not be a problem and encouraged us
to submit the note.

--------------
International Air Show
--------------


6. (SBU) The PM told the Admiral that for several years now

he has been wanting to put on an international air show here
in T&T and asked if the US would take part. Admiral
Stavridis said that he would do his best to make that a
reality. The PM suggested April 2008 as the date and said he
would appreciate hosting the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds. He
also would welcome the visit of a US aircraft carrier to T&T
waters. He reacted very favorably to an invitation from the
Admiral to tour the USS Albuquerque, a nuclear powered
submarine, when it is scheduled to visit T&T in July. The PM
mentioned that he enjoys reading and learning about military
matters, especially fighter aircraft.

--------------
Meeting with TT Defense Staff
--------------


7. (SBU) Immediately following the meeting with the PM,
Admiral Stavridis traveled to the Headquarters for the
Trinidad and Tobago Defense force. He was treated to lunch
followed by a meeting with the Chief of Defense Staff,
Brigadier Edmund Dillon and the heads of the TT Air Guard, TT
Coast Guard and TT Regiment. Talks covered the same topics
discussed above with the PM as well as a request by all for
additional training and support in developing doctrine and
policy. Admiral Stavridis recognized the need for additional
training opportunities with the U.S. He promised additional
slots in both officer and enlisted development programs to
include the senior enlisted academies and the Command and
General Staff program at Ft. Leavenworth. The Admiral also
offered to explore small unit exchanges between the US and
Trinidad. Admiral Stavridis then departed, promising that he
intends to return for a longer visit in the future.

--------------
Comment
--------------


8. (C) PM Manning was especially pleased, even relieved, to
hear Admiral Stavridis's message that help was on the way.
Though he was not able to specify what kind of assistance
could be offered, Admiral Stavridis clearly struck the right
chord in his discussions with Manning in recognizing that
greater USG attention was needed to help in both counter
narcotics and counter terror/crime areas. As Manning's party
looks set to once again win a governing majority in this
year's parliamentary elections, we fully expect that the PM
will be able to deliver on his promises to host an
international security-related conference in Port of Spain
and, his pet project, an air show early in 2008.
AUSTIN