U.S. SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS POLICY NONPAPER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000368 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/MDSP DICK BUENNEKE STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2035 TAGS: ESA EUN MCAP NASA NATO PARM PREL TSPA XG XT EZ, FR, GM SUBJECT: U.S. SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS POLICY NONPAPER DELIVERED TO GERMANY REF: A. 08 STATE 70174 ¶B. STATE 28300 Classified By: Acting Global Affairs Unit Chief David L. Fisher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 5 below. ¶2. (C) Germany welcomed the reftel nonpaper on U.S. space situation awareness (SSA) policy and noted the upcoming bilateral meeting in Washington at the end of April as an excellent opportunity to further discuss this topic. As a possible agenda item at the April bilat, German arms control and non-proliferation officials are particularly interested in further information regarding any USG policy shifts regarding arms control arrangements in space - something Germany is very supportive of. ¶3. (C) On March 27, EconOff delivered reftel nonpaper to Ellen Goelz, MFA Desk Officer for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Goelz said Germany has a strong willingness to engage the USG on SSA discussions. Goelz has seen information on the White House website indicating that the administration is supportive of a worldwide ban on weapons that interfere with military and commercial satellites; and Goelz is encouraged by this as it aligns with German views. (COMMENT: Goelz indicated a hint of disappointment from Germany that the Bush administration did not move further on this issue. END COMMENT) ¶4. (C) Regarding the upcoming SSA bilat in Washington, Germany requested from the USG a schedule and list of topics to be discussed no later than Friday April 3 so that the German delegation can arrange their flight plans and properly prepare for the bilat. EconOff mentioned the USG interest to add discussion on U.S. and German space strategies and referenced documents "Use of Space by the Bundeswehr" and the DoD Joint Publication 3-14 "Space Operations" as potential discussion items for the bilat. Goelz responded very positively to this suggestion and said these items would be a welcome addition. In addition, EconOff mentioned that the USG would have discussions regarding the bilat with Dr. Hinnrichsen from the German Embassy in Washington. Goelz supports such a meeting and looks forward to any readout from Dr. Hinnrichsen. ¶5. (SBU) Action Request: We would welcome Department guidance regarding any US policy changes pertaining to arms control arrangements in space leading up to the Washington bilat. In addition, we would welcome a notional schedule and proposed topics of discussion for the bilat. Koenig