GSD CHAIR FROM UAE CONFIRMS STRONG RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000418 DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND PM/FO DOD FOR OSD DASD KAHL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PARM MOPS MASS AE SUBJECT: GSD CHAIR FROM UAE CONFIRMS STRONG RELATIONS REF: 08 ABU DHABI 356 Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Welcoming Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA Middle East) Colin Kahl to the UAE on April 27, Chief of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense Air Vice Marshall (MG) Mohammed Sowaidan al-Gemzy gave a strong endorsement of mutual cooperation in facing regional challenges. In a brief strategic overview, he said we must avoid letting Iran fill any vacuum left by the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq, we share concerns regarding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, we cannot address Afghanistan without dealing with Pakistan, and Iranian nuclear weapons are a key threat. He agreed that Iran has a limited window in which to engage the international community productively, yet cautioned that unilateral action by Israel against Iran could threaten us all. ¶2. (C) Stating that his forces relied primarily on "U.S.-made platforms," al-Gemzy stressed the need to continue regional integration of missile defense efforts and a common operating picture. He was pleased to hear that milestones were being reached on Shared Early Warning (SEW) and stressed the value of the Air Warfare Center (AWC) in training the region's pilots. He looked forward to UAE participation in Red Flag (stating that all future Red Flags should "include a UAE flag"). He referred in passing to delays in FMS delivery, noting that using the equipment effectively is more difficult than procuring it. In a reference to Link-16, he said that "each plane" in a coordinated GCC effort needs both voice and data communication with NATO planes, he suggested. ¶3. (C) Interestingly, al-Qemzy posited Iran as the current threat but looked beyond it -- Iran is temporarily the black sheep of the neighborhood but future priorities, to include disaster relief, also require "a long-term strategy that works." He agreed that we must seize the moment to make the region "safe for our children." He cautioned against Iraqi "drift" towards religious Shi'a influences or a civil war; he endorsed a strong U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership. ¶4. (C) Al-Qemzy noted that it had been a year since the most recent Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) and looked forward to continuing that engagement. That said, he appreciated Kahl's visit as part of that ongoing dialogue and said "take your time" on arranging the next GSD, acknowledging some delay in USG personnel assuming their new positions in the administration. ¶5. (U) DASD Kahl did not have an opportunity to clear this message prior to departure, but it was reviewed by OSD staff. OLSON