ACTION REQUEST: PROPOSED NATO STUDY ON CLUSTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000329 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017 TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL PARM SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: PROPOSED NATO STUDY ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS REF: SECSTATE 68992 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard G. Olson, reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) USNATO acknowledges receipt of Ref regarding a Proposed NATO Study on Cluster Munitions. Following consultations with SHAPE and the U.S. Military Delegation to NATO, USNATO recomQnds that Qe USG does not formally request a NATO study on cluster munitions. USNATO feels that initiating such a study may be unhelpfully divisive at this time given the close sponsorship of the cluster munition issue by Norway and other Allies. Furthermore, the outcome of such a study could not be effectively managed given the highly political nature of the issue and given the uncertainly over whether such a study would identify capability gaps with respect to area attack requirements. Given the current political climate, a study might lead to a weaker Alliance position on cluster munitions than what exists now. USNATO recommends that the USG continue working on a bilateral basis with like-minded countries. NULAND