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