REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 U.S.-OMAN ACCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000162 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, PM, L E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2028 TAGS: PARM PREL MOPS KTIA MU SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 U.S.-OMAN ACCESS AGREEMENT Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) The Port of Sohar is the only commercial port in Oman with deepwater berths capable of accommodating an aircraft carrier. It is located 150 miles northwest of Muscat and 90 miles west by northwest from al-Musanah airbase, the new Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) facility currently under construction. The United States Air Force intends to begin moving its war reserve materials currently stored at Seeb International Airport in Muscat to al-Musanah in the near future. Once this move occurs, U.S. Navy access to the Port of Sohar will become critical for the U.S. Air Force mission in Oman and the region. In addition, CENTAF is prepared to immediately place "virtual afloat" pre-positioned war reserve material in Sohar. The Port of Sohar is of strategic importance as it provides access to the entire Arabian Peninsula, as well as to the Gulf of Oman and the waterways between the coast of Pakistan and the Horn of Africa, without requiring transit of the Strait of Hormuz. ¶3. (C) The government of Oman conscientiously adheres to the U.S.-Oman Access Agreement, which serves as a cornerstone for much of our bilateral military-to-military cooperation programs. The current Agreement is under review by both U.S. and Oman for renewal in 2010. Since the Port of Sohar is not one of the facilities covered by the Agreement, however, Omani government ministries involved in U.S. ship visits are technically not authorized to approve or support U.S. military vessels seeking to berth in Sohar. In informal discussions, the Oman military has expressed its support for adding the Port of Sohar to the Access Agreement, but also has made clear that this needs to be done by a formal amendment to the document. The U.S. Department of Defense intends to propose adding Sohar to the new Agreement when renewed in 2010; however, until the new Agreement is signed, an amendment will be needed to support U.S. Navy ship visits to the Port of Sohar if U.S. naval vessels are to seek access there in the next two years. ¶4. (C) Action Request: Embassy Muscat requests that the USG immediately seek an amendment to Annex A of the 2000 Access Agreement between the U.S. and the Sultanate of Oman adding the Port of Sohar to the list of covered facilities until such time that the Agreement is renegotiated for renewal in ¶2010. Embassy is prepared to follow up immediately with Omani authorities once formal guidance is received. End Action Request. GRAPPO