UPDATE ON NATO AIR SURVEILLANCE AND TRAINING

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000473 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018 TAGS: MOPS NATO PGOV PREF PREL IC SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NATO AIR SURVEILLANCE AND TRAINING MISSIONS IN ICELAND Classified By: A/DCM W.S. Reid for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In November, the financial crisis in Iceland and the ensuing dispute between Iceland and the UK threw into question NATO air surveillance and training missions in Iceland. The UK was scheduled to fill the December 5 ) 21, 2008 rotation, but after a period of negotiation, the UK ultimately cancelled at the behest of the Icelandic government. The negotiations also led to a reduction in the number of rotations per year and adjustments to the financial arrangements. Sending nations are now invited to Iceland three times per year vice four. The sending nations will also now pay for food at the rate of 26 euros per person per day, and ground support (handling fees, loading equipment, etc.) at the rate of 2,000 euros per day, assuming five jets -- cost that were covered previously by Iceland. All other terms remain the same. For 2009, the first rotation will be filled by Denmark beginning January, then Spain in the spring, followed by the United States in late August to September. ¶2. (SBU) Iceland first invited NATO Allies to such air surveillance and policing activities in July 2007. The initial exercise was conducted by France in April and May of ¶2008. Not only do these rotations provide good training opportunities, they also demonstrate NATO presence in an area of Alliance airspace that has seen increased Russian encroachment. VOLKER