UK FEELS U.S. PAIN BUT OFFERS LITTLE LOVE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001553

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA/DEAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN UK
SUBJECT: UK FEELS U.S. PAIN BUT OFFERS LITTLE LOVE ON
U.S.-EU SUMMIT DECLARATION

REF: STATE 57696

Classified By: Minister Political Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) The UK does not itself strongly object to the proposed
U.S. language on Cuba and Venezuela in the U.S.-EU Summit
document, but is bowing to the "significant" opposition of
other EU Members and will not break rank on including U.S.
language. Polcounselor delivered ref message on June 3 to
Matthew Forbes, of the Foreign Office's Central America
Office, and Michael Grace, the EU Policy Coordinator at the
North America Desk. On Cuba, Forbes said that although the
HMG "understands the arguments for specific mention of Cuba
in the text," London recognizes the validity of the position
strongly advocated by other EU Members, such as Spain and
Italy, that a reference to Cuba this year would be
counterproductive because the EU may decide days after the
Summit to engage in dialogue with Havana and lift certain
sanctions. A critical Cuba-specific reference would likely
poison the environment for the launch of a successful
dialogue; Havana had "already indicated" it would be a red
flag if the Declaration contained specific language on Cuba,
Forbes claimed. Forbes acknowledged that this argument was
in effect holding the text hostage to an EU decision not yet
taken, but those EU states which held this position were
adamant that the risks outweighed the benefits of a Cuba
reference. HMG, Forbes said, had decided to accept this
tactical argument. Forbes was pessimistic that, despite the
USG's willingness to work with the EU on how Cuba was
referenced in the text, any agreement on a specific mention
of Cuba was possible given "how strongly other EU members are
on this point."


2. (C) Forbes said that the UK position was similar
regarding a specific reference to Venezuela. The UK
generally did not object, but other EU Members strongly
believed it was counterproductive -- Forbes singled out
Germany and Spain -- and the UK did not see any room for
compromise.


3. (C) Forbes and Grace were less familiar with the U.S.
language on the FARC and the U.S.-Colombia FTA. Neither
said that they could speak definitively, but both expressed
some surprise that there were objections to the U.S.
language, especially on the FTA. Both pledged to bring U.S.
concerns and language to the attention of the relevant
Foreign Office officials working on those sections of the
draft declaration.

Missile Defense
--------------

4. (C) Michael Grace, of the U.S. Desk, said that the UK was
still considering the proposed U.S. language on missile
defense, but London's initial view is that such a reference
is best kept out of the EU context and is more appropriate
for inclusion in a NATO text and discussions. Grace said he
would press his Foreign Office colleagues for more
specificity on the UK view, but said he understood other EU
Members are strongly opposed and the current language may be
as much as "the traffic can bear" on the EU side.
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