UK NAVAL TRAINING MISSION SET TO RETURN TO IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003004 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS UK IZ SUBJECT: UK NAVAL TRAINING MISSION SET TO RETURN TO IRAQI WATERS REF: A. A. BAGHDAD2755 ¶B. B. BAGHDAD2273 Classified By: Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cam eron Munter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: President Jalal Talabani earlier this week confirmed for the British Ambassador that the UK-Iraq bilateral security agreement has passed the Presidency Council and the British naval training contingent can return to Iraqi waters. Upon receiving this confirmation, the UK is planning to being returning naval training personnel and assets to Iraq. End Summary -------------- -- Background: UK naval mission initially held up -------------- -- ¶2. (C) After an agreement to continue the UK naval training mission stalled in the Council of Representatives (COR) in July, the UK pulled its naval trainers out of Iraqi waters. The COR eventually passed the bilateral security agreement on October 13 and British ships have been awaiting ratification of the agreement by the Iraqi Presidency Council before they could return (Ref A). Prior to July, the UK naval training mission had included up to 100 UK personnel training the Iraqi Navy at the Port of Umm Qasr, a naval ship and crew participating in NAVCENT operations to secure Iraqi oil platforms in the Persian Gulf, and staff officers embedded in Multi-National Force-Iraq (Ref B). -------------- A Breakthrough on Both Sides -------------- ¶3. (C) Post had learned that there was an internal UK debate regarding whether an exchange of diplomatic notes would be required after the bilateral security agreement passed the Presidency Council. Embassy London reached out to the UK Foreign Office to note the US desire for the British naval training mission to return to Iraq as soon as possible. The UK Government decided earlier this week that an exchange of notes was not required and, upon receiving confirmation from President Talabani that the agreement passed the Presidency Council, the UK Ministry of Defense agreed to return the naval training mission. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) The return of the UK ships and trainers will once again provide the British with an enhanced presence in the Middle East and a close partnership with the U.S. military, in addition to filling critical needs for Iraq's maritime security. HILL