CARRIER STRIKE GROUP 8 VISITS BRAZIL, STRENGTHENS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000638 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS BR SUBJECT: CARRIER STRIKE GROUP 8 VISITS BRAZIL, STRENGTHENS MIL-MIL TIES, IGNORED BY POLITICAL LEADERS Classified By: Ambassador Clifford Sobel. Reason 1.5 (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Carrier Strike Group Eight (CSG8), centered on the USS George Washington, visited Brazilian waters April 16-May 2. While in Brazilian waters to participate in the UNITAS 08 exercise, the priority objective for the visit was to enhance the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Brazil and to lay the groundwork for more robust mil-mil engagement between U.S. and Brazilian naval forces. Drawing on themes from both State and DoD policy statements, Strike Group Commander Rear Admiral Philip Cullom delivered a strong message to Brazilian visitors that the U.S. and Brazil share an interest in preserving maritime security against an array of non-traditional threats. The visit was well received by members of Brazil's business community and by the press but generated little interest among Brazilian political leaders. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Carrier Strike Group Eight, consisting of the USS George Washington, USS Farragut, USS Kaufman and USCGC Northland, visited Brazil April 16 to May 2 for this year's Atlantic phase of the forty-ninth annual UNITAS exercise. During the exercise, U.S., Brazilian and Argentine ships practiced a range of possible operations, including search and rescue, maritime interdications and detection of WMD smuggling. The participants expressed satisfaction with the exercises, which U.S. Navy leadership described as "at a higher level of complexity than previous UNITAS." In after action reports, participating navies identified communication difficulties and not enough overall exercise time as areas for improvement. ¶3. (C) Consistent with Mission and USSOUTHCOM goals, CSG8 made it a priority to use its presence to enhance military to military contacts with the Brazilian navy and underline the need for bilateral engagement in light of the current maritime security environment. Brazilian liaison officers were embarked in Norfolk to prepare for the CSG's stay in Brazilian waters, and more than fifty Brazilian personnel were stationed on U.S. ships during the exercise. Each of the Brazilians was assigned to a U.S. counterpart to allow for sharing of best practices as the Brazilians observed how the U.S. Navy worked. The inclusiveness shown to the Brazilians drew hugely positive reviews and was reagarded as important at a time when Brazil is struggling to return its own aircraft carrier to active service. ¶4. (C) With input from Embassy BRASILIA and Consulates Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the CSG Strategic Communication team drew up an extensive distinguished visitors program that would highlight U.S.-Brazil partnership and our common interests in preserving maritime security. Visitors got to spend a day on the carrier, witness flight operations and see how Brazilian personnel were integrated with the U.S. crew. Strike Group Commander Rear Admiral Philip Cullom began each visit with a presentation highlighting the importance of sea transport to global prosperity and maritime forces' role in preserving this. He also noted the importance of cooperative approaches between nations with common interests in ensuring maritime security. Visitors were drawn primarily from the Brazilian military and business communities and drew a strongly positive response. Unfortunately, none of Brazil's political leaders who were invited attended. ¶5. (C) The April 28 visit by members of the Brazilian press resulted in generally positive coverage. Leading Brazilian commentator William Waack filed two reports for O Globo on the visit that reflected the importance the U.S. places on partnership with Brazil. Press coverage also focused on the expense of the carrier and its operations, an important point as Brazil seeks to modernize its own defense. The real scoop for several reporters was the presences of Brazilian-Americans in the crew in positions of responsibility. This contrasts with the popular image of Brazilian emmigrants getting only low-skill, low paying jobs. Quoting several crew members saying that they felt at home in both countries probably did more to advance the idea of partnership than the demonstrations of air power. BRASILIA 00000638 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) COMMENT. The Navy's effort to coordinate with the Embassy and engage in public outreach added value to the annual exercises. In comments to Embassy personnel, Brazilian visitors consistently mentioned that the Navy's emphasis on humanitarian assistance, drug interdiction and cooperation with friendly states gave a more positive impression than the usual Brazilian images of the U.S. military bombing Middle Eastern states. Admiral Cullom's comment to a group of Brazilian business leaders that while an aircraft carrier is expensive, it is a cost that the USG believes is worthwhile in terms of its value to safeguarding global prosperity received nods and at least one offhand comment that the Brazilian government could learn from this. While the lack of Brazilian government attendance was disappointing, we should still look for opportunities to make the point that the U.S. and Brazil are natural security partners. Defense Minister Jobim missed the carrier visit because he was out of the country. As a next step, we should try to arrange a visit for him to a U.S. carrier when he visits SOUTHCOM this summer. SOBEL