EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES WAIVER FOR COSTA RICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 000427 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, INL/LP, PM/PPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017 TAGS: PREL MOPS SNAR CS SUBJECT: EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES WAIVER FOR COSTA RICA Classified By: CHG Laurie Weitzenkorn for reasons 1.4 (B). ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Embassy San Jose strongly recommends a national interest waiver of ASPA restrictions against Excess Defense Articles (EDA) for Costa Rica. The waiver will significantly enhance Costa Rica's maritime patrol capability and build on record seizures in Costa Rican waters during ¶2006. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During the February 2007 Central American Chiefs of Mission Conference in Miami, Ambassador Langdale and Admiral Stavridis discussed the need to enhance Costa Rica's maritime patrol capability. Costa Rica's maritime region saw record cocaine seizures in 2006 but the Costa Rican Coast Guard was frequently unable to respond to actionable intelligence of vessels known to be carrying drugs, even within 20 miles of shore, due to a lack of patrol boat readiness. ¶3. (U) Costa Rica's Exclusive Economic Zone straddles major ocean smuggling routes to the U.S. from South America. In 1999, Costa Rica was the first Central American nation to sign a bilateral maritime agreement with the U.S. to allow for joint patrols. For domestic political reasons, the GOCR has found it politically impossible to sign an Article 98 agreement with the U.S. and, as a result, our ability to build on the strategic relationship suffered as ASPA restrictions dried up resources. Nonetheless, the GOCR remained a steadfast ally against narcotics and has managed to seize increasing amounts of cocaine every year since 2001. Thanks to close cooperation under the terms of the bilateral agreement, U.S. and Costa Rican authorities seized a record 25.5 metric tons of cocaine in 2006. Nearly 14 tons were seized at sea by U.S. assets in Costa Rican waters or aboard Costa Rican vessels--highlighting in stark terms the need for Costa Rican patrol boats to serve as a force multiplier for U.S. maritime law enforcement patrols. ¶4. (U) In 2007, Costa Rica will begin to benefit from renewed access to IMET training after several years under sanctions. Before the sanctions, this urgently needed training provided the U.S. with access and influence among key Costa Rican officials. Now that access to IMET has been restored, addressing the patrol boat readiness issue is the top priority and will require access to EDA. ¶5. (U) Post strongly recommends an EDA waiver on national interest grounds. LANGDALE