EMBASSY SUPPORTS SOUTHCOM EFFORTS TO INCREASE

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001759 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM DAS COULTER AND ROSATI, WHA, WHA/CAR ROSHOLT, L/PM COFFEE SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PTER DR SUBJECT: EMBASSY SUPPORTS SOUTHCOM EFFORTS TO INCREASE DOMINICAN MARITIME SECURITY THROUGH "ENDURING FRIENDSHIP" ¶1. (SBU) Embassy concurs with and supports efforts undertaken by the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to improve Dominican maritime counter-terror capabilities through provision of naval interceptors (i.e., "go-fast boats),communications and other equipment, and training through the "Enduring Friendship" (EF) program. Embassy concludes that the Dominican Navy and/or other Dominican forces designated by Dominican authorities will be unable to ake control of ungoverned maritime space without such a program and that ungoverned Dominican maritime space poses a hazard to the southern approaches of the Homeland. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy understands and concurs with the expenditure of 1206 monies to fund EF activities in the Dominican Republic and notes the continued importance of 1206 funding as traditional sources of military assistance funding (e.g., Foreign Military Financing) are reduced or zeroed-out. BULLEN