Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON611
2008-03-12 09:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL'S ADDITIONAL ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS
VZCZCXRO2471 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #0611 0720939 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 120939Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6695 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000611
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: AF PREL MOPS MARR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S ADDITIONAL ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19516
B. USDAO LISBON 291217Z FEB 08 (6879007108)
Classified By: AMBASSADOR, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000611
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: AF PREL MOPS MARR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S ADDITIONAL ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19516
B. USDAO LISBON 291217Z FEB 08 (6879007108)
Classified By: AMBASSADOR, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) Action request. See paragraphs 6 and 7.
2. (C) Summary. The Portuguese Defense Minister told us
Portugal will announce the contribution of a second OMLT
before the Bucharest Summit. To encourage additional
contributions, we recommend that other ISAF allies and the
NATO SYG engage the Portuguese. Although we will continue to
press for both, it would be useful to know whether defense
planners would prefer additional OMLTs or the reintroduction
of a Quick Reaction Force, in order to target more
effectively our own lobbying efforts. End summary.
Good News: One More OMLT
--------------
3. (C) Portuguese Minister of Defense Nuno Severiano Teixeira
told Ambassador February 28 that Portugal would contribute an
additional Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) to
NATO's ISAF operations in Afghanistan, beyond the OMLT
already pledged (Ref B). Severiano Teixeira said the
announcement would be made before the Bucharest Summit.
Engaging on Further Contributions
--------------
4. (C) ISAF contributions have been a critical issue in
Portugal since the Portuguese announced in October 2007 that
they would not renew the mandate of the company-strength
Quick Reaction Force (QRF) when it expires in August 2008.
Portuguese officials committed a C-130 and an OMLT at that
time, in what they considered a "shift" in contributions,
rather than a draw-down.
5. (C) We have pressed the Portuguese extensively and on many
levels to expand their contributions to the ISAF effort,
including during Ambassador's initial conversations with the
Foreign Minister and Defense Minister. While overall
financial constraints plus individual budget cycle needs make
a complete reversal of the QRF withdrawal decision difficult,
we should keep in mind the reintroduction of a QRF in
following cycles as a secondary goal.
6. (C) We believe we should push for as many as three more
OMLTs or to reintroduce the QRF in a later cycle. While it
would be both politically and financially difficult for
Portugal to make these contributions, they could do it.
While we will continue to push for both OMLTs and a QRF, it
would be useful to hear from defense planners which they
consider most important, in order to target our lobbying
efforts most effectively.
7. (C/NF) In many of our conversations, Portuguese officials
have told us that it would be useful to have other allies
weigh in, to avoid the appearance that it is only the U.S.
who is concerned. To that end, Ambassador and DATT have
consulted with their Polish embassy counterparts. The Poles
(locally, anyway) are open to helping us press the GOP for
additional troop commitments. To complement our own
initiatives, we suggest that Washington and embassies to
other active ISAF partners engage the GOP to encourage
further contributions.
Stephenson
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: AF PREL MOPS MARR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S ADDITIONAL ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19516
B. USDAO LISBON 291217Z FEB 08 (6879007108)
Classified By: AMBASSADOR, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) Action request. See paragraphs 6 and 7.
2. (C) Summary. The Portuguese Defense Minister told us
Portugal will announce the contribution of a second OMLT
before the Bucharest Summit. To encourage additional
contributions, we recommend that other ISAF allies and the
NATO SYG engage the Portuguese. Although we will continue to
press for both, it would be useful to know whether defense
planners would prefer additional OMLTs or the reintroduction
of a Quick Reaction Force, in order to target more
effectively our own lobbying efforts. End summary.
Good News: One More OMLT
--------------
3. (C) Portuguese Minister of Defense Nuno Severiano Teixeira
told Ambassador February 28 that Portugal would contribute an
additional Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) to
NATO's ISAF operations in Afghanistan, beyond the OMLT
already pledged (Ref B). Severiano Teixeira said the
announcement would be made before the Bucharest Summit.
Engaging on Further Contributions
--------------
4. (C) ISAF contributions have been a critical issue in
Portugal since the Portuguese announced in October 2007 that
they would not renew the mandate of the company-strength
Quick Reaction Force (QRF) when it expires in August 2008.
Portuguese officials committed a C-130 and an OMLT at that
time, in what they considered a "shift" in contributions,
rather than a draw-down.
5. (C) We have pressed the Portuguese extensively and on many
levels to expand their contributions to the ISAF effort,
including during Ambassador's initial conversations with the
Foreign Minister and Defense Minister. While overall
financial constraints plus individual budget cycle needs make
a complete reversal of the QRF withdrawal decision difficult,
we should keep in mind the reintroduction of a QRF in
following cycles as a secondary goal.
6. (C) We believe we should push for as many as three more
OMLTs or to reintroduce the QRF in a later cycle. While it
would be both politically and financially difficult for
Portugal to make these contributions, they could do it.
While we will continue to push for both OMLTs and a QRF, it
would be useful to hear from defense planners which they
consider most important, in order to target our lobbying
efforts most effectively.
7. (C/NF) In many of our conversations, Portuguese officials
have told us that it would be useful to have other allies
weigh in, to avoid the appearance that it is only the U.S.
who is concerned. To that end, Ambassador and DATT have
consulted with their Polish embassy counterparts. The Poles
(locally, anyway) are open to helping us press the GOP for
additional troop commitments. To complement our own
initiatives, we suggest that Washington and embassies to
other active ISAF partners engage the GOP to encourage
further contributions.
Stephenson