SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSTAINING AFGHAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 097991 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018 TAGS: AF PREL NATEU MOPS MARR SUBJECT: SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSTAINING AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY REF: A. STATE 19516 ¶B. STATE 71479 ¶C. STATE 93225 Classified By: Acting A/S Judy Garber, for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) This is an action request. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) BACKGROUND: The September 10 Joint Coordination Board Meeting in Kabul endorsed the Afghan Government's request to expand the Afghan National Army (ANA) from the previously internationally-endorsed size of 86,000 to 134,000 (inclusive of a 12,000 soldier pool for transients and trainees). The United States plans to take the lead in supporting ANA expansion by providing funds for the initial training and equipping of new ANA units. We are now making targeted asks to Allies and key partners for financial support to the sustainment of an expanded Afghan National Army. Sustainment would include recurring costs for training; salaries; and non-durable items such as personal equipment, munitions, repair parts, and food. The U.S. has circulated a concept at NATO proposing the Alliance manage a multi-donor trust fund to administer donations for the long term sustainment of the ANA and will explore further with Allies in the coming weeks. Additionally, Washington notes reporting from Posts on previous demarches (ref B and C) that many Allies and Partners have questions regarding ANA expansion, especially on long-term sustainability of the expansion and increased requirements for military trainers. Washington is working to respond to these questions and concerns. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Posts should: (1) thank host governments for existing Afghanistan support; (2) reiterate points made in REFTELS on the need for an expanded Afghan National Army and continued deployment of military and civilian resources to Afghanistan; and (3) emphasize the need for international support so the Government of Afghanistan can fulfill their mandate consistent with the Afghanistan Compact, of meeting Afghanistan's security needs, and make the targeted asks below. Posts should note that requests for Forces (ref A) remain in effect and that while this specific demarche does not include further requests for pressing on new deployments or troop increases, that those requirements remain important to success in Afghanistan. -------------- BEGIN TARGETED ASKS -------------- -- Paris: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Given its combat troop contributions and budgetary challenges, donations from France may be difficult, but highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate leadership by making early contributions. -- Rome: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Given Italy's combat troop contributions and budget cuts, donations from Italy may be difficult but highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate leadership by making early contributions, even if they are not large. -- Berlin: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Germany has recently taken positive steps to improve their posture in Afghanistan by considering an increase to their in-country troop ceiling to 4,500 in October and offering to take part in Focused District Development. -- Ottawa: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. As Canada looks to shift its role from primarily combat to primarily training in 2011, contributions to Afghan National Army sustainment would be in line with Ottawa's policy. -- London: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Given the UK's troop contributions and budget challenges, donations from the UK may be difficult but highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate leadership by making early contributions. -- Madrid: Ask for $50 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. As other key Allies such as France, Germany, and Italy do more in Afghanistan - by deploying more troops and trainers, increasing funding, and easing caveats - urge Spain to do the same. -- Ankara: Ask for $40 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Prime Minister Erdogan and Defense Minister Gonul have indicated openness to do more on training, and we should encourage funding and trainers for the ANA as ideal means of supporting Afghanistan. -- Stockholm: Ask for $40 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Oslo: Ask for $35 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Athens: Ask for $30 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Copenhagen: Ask for $25 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Denmark recently released a new Afghanistan strategy outlining commitment for financial assistance to Afghanistan that received broad political support. Incorporating contributions to support sustainment of the ANA would complement their proposals. -- Helsinki: Ask for $20 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- The Hague: Ask for $20 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. A significant contribution would balance the Netherlands' planned reduction of its military contribution to ISAF in 2010. -- Bern: Ask for $10 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Brussels: Ask for $10 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Encourage donations as an important complement to Belgium's recent deployment of an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team to train the ANA. -- Luxembourg: Ask for $4 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Lisbon: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. While we acknowledge that serious discussion of returning Portugal's elite Quick Reaction Force to Afghanistan is not possible prior to the 2009 elections, in the meantime contributing to the ANA would send a continued message of support along with other troop contributions. -- Dublin: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. -- Vienna: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Given the small size of Austria's potential contribution and the quality of their military and police force, consider prioritizing requests for trainers over funding. -- Reykjavik: Ask for $1 million per year from 2010-1014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Given Iceland's extreme sensitivity to appearing to support military operations, providing funding for ANA sustainment (logistics, training, medical support, etc.) could be an effective means of support the international effort. -- For Tirana, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, Tallinn, Budapest, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Bucharest, Bratislava, and Ljubljana: In the interest of Alliance solidarity ask for donations to help sustain the expansion of the Afghan National Army. Urge these Allies to prioritize troops and trainers over money donations. -- Skopje and Baku: In the interest of international solidarity ask for donations to help sustain the expansion of the Afghan National Army. Urge these Allies to prioritize troops and trainers over money donations. ¶4. (C) Posts should report results by October 1, flagged for SCA/A Tom Reott and EUR/RPM Raphael Carland. RICE