FRENCH KISS - SARKO'S PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION FOR ABU

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000529


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS FR AE
SUBJECT: FRENCH KISS - SARKO'S PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION FOR ABU
DHABI

REF: ABU DHABI 145

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the UAE
May 25-26. Key events, apart from considerable media frothiness,
included the opening of a French naval facility and laying the
foundation stone for Abu Dhabi's Louvre. Highlighting how a strong
friendship was good for the common defense, a shared cultural
journey, and (especially) better economic ties, he also planned to
sign an MoU to allow UAE diplomats to work out of French embassies in
countries where the UAE does not have its own mission. End summary.


2. (SBU) French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Abu Dhabi May
25 on a whirlwind two-day visit to the UAE. Local media celebrated
Sarkozy's visit as confirmation of close UAE-French ties on cultural,
military, economic and diplomatic levels. A Sarkozy editorial
written in the first person highlighted these themes in the local
press.

MILITARY TIES
--------------


3. (SBU) A primary purpose of the visit (reftel) was strengthening
France's military foothold in the Gulf. On May 26, Sarkozy formally
opened "Peace Camp", a permanent French military (primarily navy)
base to host up to 500 troops. The Abu Dhabi presence consists of a
naval and logistical base, an air base with three fighter planes, and
a training camp. The presence is expected to support French land,
sea, and air forces in the Gulf region. The French tell us this is
an extension of the navy command based at Djibouti and will cover the
same region -- from No. Africa to India. (COMMENT: we understand
that the creation of the "base" will not significantly change the
French footprint here. About 300-500 French military personnel will
be on the ground at any given time, as has been the case for many
years. Once the base is complete, however, they will move from
rented office space and hotels in town where they currently operate
from. So this is in large measure about saving money. We should
insist on the same deal. END COMMENT.)


4. (SBU) In an interview in advance of his visit, Sarkozy told
Diplomatie magazine that the military presence underscored Paris'
desire to "participate fully in the stability of this region that is
essential for the world's equilibrium". French Foreign Minister
Kouchner pointed out that France's first military base in the Gulf
will help the fight against piracy and safeguard oil routes.

ECONOMIC INTERESTS
--------------


5. (C) As is customary on such visits, economic interests are also
high on the agenda and his entourage included key private sector
executives, and reportedly 80 parliamentary deputies. Sarkozy
reportedly pressed for the sale of up to 41 billion dirham (11
billion USD) worth of Rafale fighter jets; the deal apparently
involves the first overseas sale of the Rafale from France's Dassault
Aviation, for up to 60 aircraft. Also on the bilateral agenda is
nuclear energy, continuing discussions underway since Sarkozy's
January 2008 visit; France's Areva leads one of three consortia
bidding to supply the UAE with nuclear technology. In addition to
the Rafale and nuclear programs, Post hears that Sarkozy made a very
strong sales pitch to the UAE President, among others, on
electro-optical imaging satellites and planes to be used as
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. One
report says he specifically contrasted the French products as
superior to American alternatives; the French deliver quicker,
cheaper, and at a higher quality. He said the Americans are just
drawing the UAE in with overpriced products that don't work and never
completely deliver.

CULTURAL TIES
--------------


6. (SBU) Prior to Sarkozy's arrival, the Abu Dhabi rumor mill and
media reports were abuzz with chatter of his visit to lay the
foundation stone for a branch of the Louvre museum expected to form
one of the cornerstones of Abu Dhabi's planned cultural Mecca:
Saadiyat Island. Sarkozy praised the construction of a branch of the
iconic museum in Abu Dhabi as "an extraordinary journey of cultural
exchange" and stated "our two countries will forever be strengthened
by this partnership." To underscore the importance of the Louvre,
Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ),
accompanied Sarkozy to Saadiyat Island. A statement issued by UAE
President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, said that the project
represented an "unprecedented cultural partnership". Sarkozy also
visited the Sorbonne campus which has been in Abu Dhabi since 2006.


7. (SBU) This cultural bear hug comes against the backdrop of a
Human Rights Watch report that condemns the "mistreatment" of workers
on the Saadiyat Island project. Human Rights Watch issued a
statement saying "Sarkozy would do well on this visit to examine the
existing labor conditions on the island." That does not appear to
have dampened the positive nature of the visit.

DIPLOMATIC TIES
--------------


8. (SBU) In an interesting evolution of Emirati-French diplomatic
relations, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ)
announced May 25 that the UAE and France plan to sign an MoU under
which "Emirati diplomats will be appointed in French diplomatic
missions" in countries in which the UAE does not have diplomatic
representation. AbZ told officials from both countries that France
is vital to the Emirates' foreign policy, without clarifying the
presumably awkward logistics of placing Emirati staff in French
missions.


9. (C) A well plugged in foreign advisor told Ambassador that this
was really part of a payback for the UAE's campaign to host the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). We had already heard
that France (committed to supporting Germany for EU reasons) promised
to deliver Francophone West Africa, and French Embassies supported FM
Abdullah bin Zayid's recent whirlwind tour of Africa. Now, in a
political payback to the African states that support the UAE bid, UAE
diplomats will be placed in French Embassies principally in West
Africa.

NOT JUST A CHARM OFFENSIVE
--------------


10. (C) Press reports of the Sarkozy visit will no doubt remain
positive, and the intended purpose of shoring up defense, cultural
and economic ties have taken small steps forward. That said, the
Iranian MFA spokesperson apparently took a different approach in
cautioning that the French base was a foreign intrusion that would
not serve regional security; maybe the base has already filled a key
function in getting Tehran's attention.


11. (C) While the US role as the senior security partner is not in
doubt, our operations did pay a price for the Sarkozy visit, with
closure of ramp space at al-Dhafra (for a poorly planned French
military maneuver which confused local time with Zulu time)
preventing the delivery of fuel to Afghanistan. With our tankers
grounded, 265,000 pounds of fuel for the Afghan fight was
undeliverable and had to be routed from elsewhere. We remain
cognizant of the cost of coordination -- often very much beyond our
control.


12. (C/NF) COMMENT: Frankly, this visit brought out the most
unseemly aspects of French and Emirati political cultures. The
Emirati desire to be the object of unrestrained praise met its match
in the French willingness to abase themselves in front of rich
clients. And while we have no doubt that the senior leadership
recognizes that only the US can guarantee the security of the Gulf,
one spectacularly ill informed local media commentator suggested that
the UAE was now under the French nuclear umbrella.


13. (C/NF) The view of the UAE leadership is more nuanced.
President Khalifa enjoys a reputation for Francophilia, and he was
both highly visible at and visibly pleased by the visit of Sarkozy,
and the French certainly played this to the max. Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Zayed, by contrast, is by instinct much more likely to
see the US as his principal partner for security (and other areas
including nuclear cooperation and general business dealings). But,
MbZ clearly recognizes the value of competition amongst his purveyors
of security and defense hardware, and is happy to see France compete
against the US, thereby forcing both of us to make concessions on
price and service.

OLSON