URUGUAY'S MILITARY ENHANCES ITS INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000479

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/BSC
NSC FOR DFISK AND GTOMASULO
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: MARR MCAP MASS PREL UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY'S MILITARY ENHANCES ITS INTERNATIONAL
VISIBILITY AND STRENGTHENS TIES WITH U.S.

Classified By: Ambassador Frank Baxter
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

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Summary
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1. (U) There has been a significant increase in Uruguay-U.S.
military cooperation since the Cabinet shake up on March 1.
The Uruguayan Navy is participating for the second year
running in the PANAMAX exercise August 11-22, 2008. U.S.
SOUTHCOM provided critical support by providing USD 573,000
to fuel the Uruguayan ship ROU4 General Artigas, allowing
that vessel to reach and participate in the exercise.
PANAMAX is currently the only U.S.-sponsored regional
exercise that the Uruguayan Navy takes part in, as it ceased
participation in UNITAS with the election of the Vasquez
government in 2005. Still, Uruguay's first hosting of the
Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) South exercises in September,
its strong performance in June's Forces Comando Counter
Terrorism (CT) Competition, its receipt of USD 800,000 in USG
non-military aid, budding security-related science and
technology partnerships with SOUTHCOM and the Office of Naval
Research, the recent procurement of 16 27-foot patrol boats
for MINISTAH's new maritime mission, and the July visit of
Uruguayan Minister of Defense (MOD) Jose Bayardi to the U.S.,
which included a meeting with Secretary of Defense Gates, are
all positive signs that Uruguay's armed forces are assuming a
wider regional profile. End Summary.

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PANAMAX
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2. (SBU) The GOU considers its participation in PANAMAX 2008,
a multinational training exercise co-sponsored by the U.S.
Navy and the Government of Panama, as critically important to
maintaining a well-trained military and good regional
relations. The Uruguayan Navy ship ROU4 General Artigas
departed Montevideo as scheduled on July 20. In addition to
the 200 sailors and marines aboard, the Uruguayan Armed
Forces are participating in PANAMAX with 25 PKO instructors
in Coban, Guatemala, a special operations planning cell at
Homestead AFB, a naval operations planning cell in Panama,
and a BO-105 Eurocopter with two flight crews. This
extensive participation underlines the important opportunity
that PANAMAX represents to the Uruguayan Navy.


3. (SBU) U.S. SOUTHCOM provided funding for 80 percent of the
fuel needed for the Uruguayan ship ROU4 General Artigas to
carry the participants to Panama. Uruguay had planned to
combine the exercise with its annual rotation of MINUSTAH
peacekeeping troops and use UN transportation funds to help
cover the cost of transportation for both missions. Days
before the departure of the ship, however, the UN determined
that the travel funds would be used for air transport of the
peacekeeping troops, leaving the ship short of money for
fuel. SOUTHCOM's ability and willingness to provide the
last-minute funds was greatly appreciated by the Uruguayan
Navy. Earlier this month, the Uruguayan Chief of Naval
Operations hosted a lunch of thanks for the Ambassador and
ODC representatives. Ambassador Baxter noted "overwhelming
warmth" from the Uruguayans, emphasizing the good relations
stemming from SOUTHCOM's largesse.

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Other Areas of Cooperation
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4. (C) PANAMAX is only one of a number of examples of recent
bilateral military-to-military cooperation. Uruguay's
September hosting of PKO South exercises, the June
recognition of the strength of Uruguay's Special Forces,
eleven separate Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP)
projects, ongoing discussions between military and civilian
counterparts on science and technology, increased leadership
through MINUSTAH, and the recent MOD visit to Miami,
Washington, New York and Connecticut all underline Uruguay's
renewed willingness to engage with the U.S. Military.

--PKO South: In September, Uruguay and the U.S. Army will
co-host over 200 multinational troops in Montevideo for the
PKO-South 2008 Decision-Making Exercise. This will be the
first time that Uruguay hosts the training. The exercise
will be run by U.S. Army, South with the Connecticut National
Guard (Connecticut is Uruguay's Partner State) as

instructors. Commanders from the Connecticut National Guard
will observe the exercise as well as pursue civilian public
works partnerships under the Science and Technology Agreement.

--Forces Comando 2008: In June, Uruguay's Special Forces in
CT received second place recognition in a competition-- held
in Texas-- between 17 WHA countries that promoted
military-to-military relationships, increased communication
between and within militaries, and improved regional
security. Uruguay's participation was further notable
because this is the first time since the current
administration came to power that the Uruguayan military has
been allowed to take their own weapons to a training
exercise. This allowance was approved by Congress at the
last minute due to efforts by MOD Bayardi, and followed
strong advocacy from the ODC.

--Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP): Although HAP is a
program devoted to purely civilian projects, some of its
donations were previously controversial in Uruguay.
Nevertheless, in 2007 SOUTHCOM gave USD 772,000 to projects
in Uruguay including clinics and emergency operations
centers. In 2008, USD 797,000 has been approved for more
emergency operations centers, a disaster relief warehouse,
and many small projects including the purchase of medical
equipment and computers for schools.

--Representatives from SOUTHCOM's Office of Science and
Technology and the Office of Naval Research composed part of
the delegation accompanying U/S Paula Dobriansky on her July
visit to Uruguay, which served as a jumping point for several
enhanced relationships, including commitments to pursue joint
data sharing activities and bioinformatics programs.

--As part of the new naval port security mission in Haiti, in
December 2007 Uruguay offered to procure 16 patrol boats on
behalf of MINUSTAH. Although there was some delay in getting
approval from the Uruguayan Congress to make the purchase
which will later be reimbursed by the UN, currently 4 of the
boats have been purchased from Miami-based Boston Whaler and
transported to Haiti. The maritime mission will provide port
security and some interdiction of maritime trafficking and
will be manned by the Uruguayan Coast Guard and Navy. The
GOU is proud of being selected to take the lead in this
initiative, and it reflects the confidence that the UN has in
Uruguay's professionalism and capabilities.

--During his U.S. visit in July, MOD Bayardi met with SecDef
Gates and pledged to increase communication with the DOD, and
in particular to receive guidance on the development of joint
unit command. In Connecticut, he requested assistance from
the National Guard to instruct Uruguay on the use of the
recently purchased radar units. In Miami, his briefings on
the 4th fleet prepared him for a very positive press
interview, in which he accurately explained the intention and
extent of the recently deployed fleet.

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Comment
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5. (C) Given the left-leaning nature of the current
administration's core constituency, the GOU is treading in
politically dangerous waters by increasing the extent of
bilateral military relations. Nevertheless, the GOU has
taken a decision to grow the relationship. This is a
positive development, because despite its small size Uruguay
is a respected voice in the region, and its peacekeeping
activities are recognized around the world. During his U.S.
visit in presentations at the Inter-American Defense Council
and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, MOD
Bayardi expressed objection to rushing to create the UNASUR
Defense Council. This is an example of the positive regional
contributions we hope Uruguay will make regarding military
issues, and an enhanced relationship with Uruguay's armed
forces is a good way to keep such contributions coming. End
Comment.

Baxter