OVERVIEW OF RECENT NATO-KUWAIT ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000457

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I AND EV/RPM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR NATO KCIP KISL KU RS XG
SUBJECT: OVERVIEW OF RECENT NATO-KUWAIT ENGAGEMENT

REF: A. 07 KUWAIT 0870

B. 07 KUWAIT 0440

C. 06 KUWAIT 4652

D. 06 KUWAIT 4557

Classified By: DCM Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: On April 9, the Polish Embassy delivered a
briefing to NATO member-country COMs on recent NATO-Kuwait
engagement. On January 14-15, a team of NATO experts visited
Kuwait to identify GOK security priorities and investigate
areas for increased cooperation. On March 27, Kuwait hosted
a NATO Special Committee Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
(ICI) seminar to review threats to Kuwait's energy
infrastructure, strategies for countering cyber attacks,
overall gulf security and regional Islamic moderation
programs. During the ICI seminar, National Security Bureau
Deputy Shaykh Thamer discussed the GCC's proposed atomic
energy program and reiterated Iran's growing danger to the
region. Kuwait has not yet implemented an agreement to share
classified information with NATO, and a transit agreement for
shipping military materiel is stalled indefinitely. The
recently concluded Bucharest Summit underscored NATO regional
priorities, but also highlighted Russia's growing unease with
NATO's eastward expansion. End summary.

Jan 14-15 NATO Experts Visit
--------------


2. (C) A team of NATO experts visited Kuwait on January 14-15
to identify GOK security priorities and investigate areas for
increased cooperation. Members of the Kuwait Ministry of
Interior (MOI),Ministry of Defense (MOD),Kuwait National
Guard (KNG),National Security Bureau (NSB) and Fire
Department attended the meetings. The GOK identified border
security, counterterrorism, WMD non-proliferation and civil
emergency planning as areas of mutual interest.


3. (SBU) NATO also advocated for greater Kuwaiti
participation in the ICI, and presented the GOK with an ICI
Menu of Practical Activities for 2008. The NATO experts
announced the launch of the E-Prime data network, which
allows NATO partners to review the ICI activities menu
online. At the conclusion of the meetings, both sides
highlighted qualitative and quantitative growth in their
cooperation, specifically noting Kuwait's nomination of a
liaison officer to the NATO Partnership Cooperation Cell in
Mons, Belgium.

March 27 ICI Seminar in Kuwait
--------------


4. (SBU) On March 27, Kuwait hosted a NATO Special Committee
ICI seminar, which included representatives from the Kuwait
MOD, MOI, NSB and the Ministry of Awqaf (religious
endowments) and Islamic Affairs; as well as members of the
Bahraini, Qatari and Emirati security establishment. NATO
Special Committee members from 11 European nations, in
addition to delegates from the NATO Terrorist Threat
Intelligence Unit and the NATO Office of Security also
attended. The seminar reviewed threats to Kuwait's energy
infrastructure, strategies for countering cyber attacks,
overall gulf security and regional Islamic moderation
programs. NATO representatives highlighted recent cyber
attacks on Estonia emanating from Russia during the cyber
security portion of the seminar.

NSB on Nuclear Energy, Iran and Islamic Moderation
-------------- --------------


5. (C) During the ICI seminar, NSB Deputy Director Shaykh
Thamer Ali Al Sabah delivered a presentation outlining GOK
regional security views. Shaykh Thamer welcomed NATO
assistance and called for intensified mutual dialogue. He
advised that the GCC intends to develop its own nuclear
energy program, but assured the NATO representatives that it
would be a strictly peaceful endeavor conducted with full and
transparent disclosure to the IAEA and the UN.


6. (C) In contrast, Shaykh Thamer said the GCC views Iran's
foreign policy and its nuclear program as threats to regional
stability. Thamer discussed the growth of Iran's regional
influence, particularly in Lebanon and the Palestinian
territories, and reiterated that Iran has threatened to
attack U.S. and European interests in the Gulf. He noted
that Iran does not possess advanced military technologies,
but cautioned that its current forces were sufficient to

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disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Shaykh Thamer stressed that Kuwait seeks to isolate Iran
internationally, and that it backs the leading role of the UN
and the IAEA in addressing Iran's nuclear program. He
counseled NATO to "take GCC advice" to "avoid mistakes" in
dealing with Iran.


7. (C) Speaking about Kuwait's Islamic moderation program,
Shaykh Thamer said the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs
had conducted moderation training for 720 imams thus far. He
also highlighted the World Moderation Center's international
conferences, courses and expert exchanges as evidence of its
global reach and success. (Note: Kuwait's moderation
initiative is essentially a marketing program for Western
consumption, as evidenced by its conferences in London,
Washington and Moscow. The program does not require imams to
take moderation training, nor does it attempt to rehabilitate
extremists. End note.)

Status of NATO-Kuwait Agreements
--------------


8. (C) NATO is pursuing an Information Security Agreement
with Kuwait that will allow for the exchange of classified
information. The GOK signed the agreement on December 12,
2006, but has not yet implemented the requisite security
measures. A team of NATO experts will visit Kuwait in May to
inspect its equipment and offer advice on next steps. NATO
expects the information exchanges to begin before July 2008.


9. (C) In addition, NATO is attempting to finalize a Transit
Agreement that will facilitate the shipment of military
materiel through Kuwait to Iraq and Afghanistan. While the
absence of such an agreement has not prevented this, the lack
of established protocols has resulted in some unnecessary
delays. The GOK noted that this accord would need to be
approved by the National Assembly, but assured NATO
representatives that "there is no real controversy with this
agreement."


10. (C) Note: The Amir dissolved the National Assembly on
March 19, and new elections are scheduled for May 17. The
dissolution was partly a response to Parliament's inability
to pass substantive legislation. The UK previously
circumvented this problem by signing a bilateral MOU with the
GOK, which the Amir approved by decree. The British
Ambassador did not specify whether this occurred during the
last parliamentary dissolution in 2006. The U.S. and U.K.
have also signed bilateral agreements to pass intelligence to
Kuwait. End note.

Recap of Bucharest Summit
--------------


11. (C) The Polish Embassy recapped the April 2-4 NATO
Bucharest Summit and outlined NATO's top priorities for the
Gulf, namely:

-- Continued support for the UN-mandated International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (now comprising 40
nations)
-- Continued support for the Government and people of Iraq
-- Continued development of the Iraq Security Forces
-- An extension of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq through
2009
-- Enhanced Iraqi Navy and Air Force leadership training,
police training, border security and counterterrorism
initiatives, and defense reform.


12. (C) During the summit, NATO encouraged new countries to
join the ICI, specifically Saudi Arabia and Oman, and
announced its desire to build liaison arrangements on a
voluntary basis with "the region." The Austrian Ambassador
noted during the briefing, however, that the KSA was having
difficulty selling ICI membership to its public, and that
Oman was balking since Sultan Qaboos is reportedly not
convinced of the magnitude of the Iranian threat and is weary
of joining the "anti-Iran" camp.


13. (C) During the briefing, Romanian Ambassador Constantin
Nistor discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin's
participation in the summit. He said Putin expressed
Russia's readiness to talk with NATO on membership expansion,
noting that Russia was "beyond the Cold War" and that it was
not interested in revisiting that era. AMB Nistor relayed
that the GOR had apparently warmed to the Europe Missile
Shield, with the caveat that the control foci be located in

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both Belgium and Russia.


14. (C) The Ambassador cautioned, however, that Russia viewed
continued NATO expansion as a threat to its security and that
Georgian and Ukrainian membership would be "very difficult
for Russia to accept." AMB Nistor speculated that Ukraine
may be split should it opt to join NATO. He recommended that
NATO continue its close engagement with Russia and observed
that Russian buy-in was critical to resolving a host of
international problems.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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Jones