SPAIN SUPPORTS GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS CONCEPT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000746 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TRA/OTP (DHAYWOOD) AND FOR PM/ISO (JFREDERICK) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2018 TAGS: EWWT ECON EFIN MASS MCAP MOPS PINS PHSA PREL SENV, SMIG, SNAR, SP SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS CONCEPT REF: STATE 50488 Classified By: DCM HUGO LLORENS FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) As per reftel request, Econoff conveyed the Global Maritime Partnerships concept to Alberto de la Calle from MFA's Foreign Policy Directorate as well as to Juan Luis Munoz de Laborde, Deputy Director for Economic, Maritime, and Aviation issues. Both directorates represent Spain on issues relating to maritime partnerships. De la Calle and Munoz de Laborde responded favorably to the GMP framework, noting that maritime cooperation was extremely important for Spain. De la Calle said that Spain was especially interested in issues relating to piracy, particularly in the wake of the recent seizure by pirates of a Spanish vessel April 19 off the coast of Somalia (the vessel and its 26 crew members were released soon after the seizure). ¶2. (C) Both officials noted that while the GMP was somewhat broad in scope, the concept could prove to be a useful tool. De la Calle praised current U.S.-Spain cooperation which includes a robust Container Security Initiative (CSI) program in the ports of Algeciras, Barcelona, and Valencia as well as a Megaports Initiative in the Port of Algeciras. Munoz de Laborde welcomed additional opportunities to work together and to engage in information sharing activities. In that vein, Econoff noted that Post's Department of Homeland Security representatives were approaching Spanish Customs to establish an information sharing program targeting trade-based money laundering. Munoz de Laborde responded favorably to the potential partnership. ¶3. (C) On a bilateral level, both officials said that they looked forward to a continuing conversation on the GMP concept leading to more formal actions on the part of the U.S. and Spain. However, they suggested that multilateral maritime policy proposals be shepherded at the EU level in Brussels. LLORENS