CDR PACOM 9/17-18 VISIT TO TONGA: MILITARY BONDS;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000466 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017 TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV TN SUBJECT: CDR PACOM 9/17-18 VISIT TO TONGA: MILITARY BONDS; NOTES ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS REF: A. SUVA 435 ¶B. SUVA 452 ¶C. SUVA 442 SUVA 00000466 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) PACOM Commander Admiral Keating's visit to Tonga reinforced strong mil/mil bonds and accented long-standing close bilateral relations. The Admiral thanked Tonga leaders for a second deployment of Tonga Defense Service (TDS) troops to Iraq. TDS Commander BG Uta'atu said Foreign/Defense Minister Tu'a has given assurance the Tonga Government's recent complaint about U.S. visa policy will not affect a follow-on Iraq deployment early next year. Uta'atu described plans to expand the TDS dramatically. During a cordial lunch, King George V expressed his pleasure that mil/mil relations are strong. In discussing domestic politics, he made clear his personal interest in rapid reform to more democratic governance and his frustration that the government is inclined to move more slowly. All interlocutors suggested that China's developing relationship with Tonga should not be of concern. End summary. Commander PACOM visit a rousing success -------------- ¶2. (C) During an introductory visit to Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Sept. 17-18, Admiral Keating met with King George V, Acting Prime Minister Tuita, Foreign/Defense Minister Tu'a, and Commander, Tonga Defense Service (TDS) Brig.Gen. Uta'atu. The TDS also hosted the Admiral for a "beating the retreat" ceremony at the Tonga naval base. Accent on close mil/mil ties; thanks for Iraq effort -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Adm. Keating emphasized throughout his visit the USG's appreciation for Tonga's friendship over many years and its past and current participation in the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq. (The TDS first deployed to Iraq in 2004. A second group of 55 TDS troops entered Iraq for a six-month deployment on Sept. 15, with another contingent to follow in February.) Interlocutors all confirmed Tonga's commitment to be a good international citizen as evidenced in the Iraq deployments. In remarks at the "beating the retreat," BG Uta'atu said mil/mil relations as "excellent." Minister Tu'a in his meeting with the Admiral described close military ties as "the buckle on the belt" of Tonga-U.S. relations. �0A;Visas barely discussed -------------- ¶4. (C) Per refs A and B, Tonga recently gave notice by diplomatic note and a visit to Embassy Suva that, unless the USG can make progress to bring visa services on the ground, Tonga "will not be disposed" to assist the U.S. "in military or other fields." The oral message was even more clear: no visa services in Tonga; no follow-on deployment to Iraq. During Admiral Keating's visit the subject only arose once, during the call on BG Uta'atu, when he acknowledged the diplomatic message, apologized for it, and said he had raised the subject with Minister Tu'a, seeking clarification. Uta'atu said Tu'a assured him that, despite the rhetoric, the follow-on deployment will go ahead as planned. (Comment: While Tu'a's assurance is comforting as regards the follow-on deployment to Iraq, the threat to disrupt future U.S-Tonga relations, including mil/mil relations, remains a concern.) TDS expansion plans: PKO and domestic contingencies -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Minister Tu'a and BG Uta'atu noted the Tonga Government's plans to expand the TDS significantly. Government has given "in principle" approval for up to 1500 troops (1.5% of Tonga's population),though current plans are somewhat more modest: to build from the current 450 to 750. Uta'atu said the aim is to have around 250 troops available for PKO, while retaining 500 at home for training and any domestic contingencies. Tu'a and Uta'atu both said they are uncomfortable with the TDS playing a domestic law-enforcement role; however, if exigencies demand, as happened last November when rioters trashed and burned much of central Nuku'alofa, the TDS needs to be ready and able. Admiral Keating acknowledged both points -- that governments should strive to direct military forces toward combat and PKO roles, but sometimes, as with Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., a SUVA 00000466 002.2 OF 002 military presence can stabilize a difficult situation. The King's rapid reform agenda, and complications -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) King George V roamed across a wide range of issues during a lunch with the Admiral. The King confirmed his personal interest in continuation of a strong military relationship. He also discussed his views on Tonga's political reform efforts (see ref C). He said he is prepared to "act on advice" of a PM selected by an elected Parliament, and he would accept reformed elections in 2008, rather than 2010 as the government is pushing. He clearly is anxious for significant reforms to proceed rapidly and is frustrated that his current government is not moving ahead quickly. He specifically complained about the Attorney General, who insists on delaying the "on advice" policy until it can be formally enacted into law. The King would rather immediately implement that by convention. In fact, if Parliament fails to move quickly to enact major reforms, the King said he is prepared to instruct Parliament to select the next PM and the next Cabinet. When we noted that some in the current government have suggested there is danger from the right in moving too quickly, the King responded: "The danger from moving too slowly is much greater than the danger from moving too fast." A benign view of the PRC -------------- ¶7. (C) In all meetings, the Admiral inquired about Tonga's relationships with the PRC. Interlocutors acknowledged there have been tensions between some Tongans and Chinese at the local level, due in part to Chinese having quickly come to dominate retail trade to the disadvantage of Tongan businesses. At the governmental level, though, leaders all gave the impression they have no concerns about Chinese influence. They see it as benign, and they are thankful for aid, like a US$55 million package intended to help Nuku'alofa recover from the riot. Minister Tu'a contrasted the Chinese with the Russians, recalling advice from the late King Tupou IV to beware of the Russians who, when they arrive, "tend to become permanent." Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Admiral Keating's visit to Nuku'alofa very usefully reconfirmed the strength of U.S.-Tonga mil/mil ties and accented USG thankfulness for the TDS deployments to Iraq. Conversations about Tonga politics illustrated that the situation remains complex. The King and the monarchy's appointees to the current government have accepted that significant reform is inevitable, a huge step for Tonga. But politicians are near stalemate on the pace and details of those reforms at a time when the monarch wants rapid progress but also wants to illustrate that he actually is retreating from active manipulation of power to an "on advice" mode. In our judgment, the King is absolutely right to worry that reform may proceed too slowly. Nobody wants a repeat of last November's riot, caused at least in part by government politicians slowing the pace. Severe violence in the streets would likely be firmly suppressed by King and TDS, with unpredictable long-term political consequences. ¶9. (U) Admiral Keating has cleared this message. DINGER