HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: USAREUR FY-09

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000389 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 TAGS: MARR PREL GM SUBJECT: HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: USAREUR FY-09 FORCE STRUCTURE CHANGES REF: HQ EUCOM MSG DTG 180819Z MAR 08 Classified By: DEPUTY POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR STAN OTTO. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) This is a joint DOD/DOS message in response to the reftel request for an embassy assessment of host nation sensitivity regarding proposed FY-09 USAREUR force structure changes in Germany, including the reorganization, relocation, activation and inactivation of U.S. Army Europe units in Ansbach, Baumholder, Grafenwoehr, Heidelberg, Hohenfels, Schweinfurt, Kaiserslautern, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Wiesbaden. ¶2. (S/NF) Government Reaction: We do not anticipate significant German federal government reaction to the proposed FY-09 force structure changes. However, a negative reaction can be expected from the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, since the planned force changes clearly signal that the USAREUR/7th Army headquarters will be moved out of Heidelberg and relocated in Wiesbaden in the neighboring state of Hesse. State authorities in Baden-Wuerttemberg are also likely to react negatively to the fact that the proposed force changes will result in significant loses of local national positions in both Heidelberg (105) and Mannheim (73). Since the losses of soldiers, government service civilians and local nationals in Heidelberg and Mannheim will be roughly offset by gains elsewhere, we believe the federal government is unlikely to express a opinion that could be seen as favoring ONE city or state over another. The German government understands that these changes are a result of the Global Posture Review and are necessary for U.S. military transformation. Since the overall level of U.S. forces stationed in Germany will not be reduced, this action should be seen as a reasonable and expected consolidation effort. ¶3. (S/NF) Press Response: We expect local media coverage to focus on the future move of USAREUR HQ from Heidelberg to Wiesbaden, the fate of U.S. facilities to be vacated in Heidelberg and Mannheim, as well as the buildup of military facilities in Wiesbaden. Local press coverage of U.S. military's plans to assist displaced local national employees is also to be expected. ¶4. (S/NF) Economic Impact: The action should have positive impact overall, as the movement of 7th Army headquarters will indicate for many a long-term U.S. commitment to the city of Wiesbaden, the state of Hesse, and Germany as a whole. Losses of local national jobs will have a minor impact, as they occur mainly in cities with large, diverse and healthy economies. TIMKEN JR