CODEL TAUSCHER'S MEETING WITH MINDEF TANTAWI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000667

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
TAGS: PREL PARM MASS MOPS KPAL IS IR EG
SUBJECT: CODEL TAUSCHER'S MEETING WITH MINDEF TANTAWI

REF: A. CAIRO 448

B. CAIRO 161

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Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. Key Points

- (S/NF) During a April 9 meeting, Minister of Defense Field
Marshal Tantawi told CODEL Tauscher that the US-Egypt
bilateral security relationship was strong.

- (S/NF) Senior Advisor to the Minister of Defense MG
al-Assar described Egyptian logistical support for the US
military, including providing overflight clearances and
security for US warships transiting the Suez Canal.

- (S/NF) Senior Advisor MG al-Helmi said Egypt was "working
hard" with the US ARMY Corps of Engineers to implement the
FMF-sponsored BTADS project along the Egypt-Gaza border.

- (S/NF) Al-Assar recognized Iran as a serious regional
threat and advocated a "peaceful and political solution" to
Iran's attempts to develop a nuclear weapons, saying the
region "could not afford another conflict."

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Mil-Mil Cooperation
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2. (SBU) During a April 9 meeting, Representatives Ellen
Tauscher (D-CA),Michael Turner (R-OH),Loretta Sanchez
(D-CA),Trent Franks (R-AZ),and Parker Griffith (D-AL)
discussed bilateral security cooperation, counter smuggling,
and Iran with Minister of Defense Field Marshal Tantawi.
Al-Assar described Egyptian logistical support for the US
military, including providing 45,000 overflight clearances
since September 11, 2001 and security for US warships
transiting the Suez Canal. Al-Helmi expressed appreciation
for 30 years of Foreign Military Financing (FMF),saying the
support was crucial to modernizing the Egyptian military and
replacing outdated Soviet equipment.

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Counter Smuggling
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3. (SBU) Al-Helmi said MOD was "cooperating fully" with the
US ARMY Corps of Engineers to combat arms smuggling into
Gaza. He noted that BTADS - the FMF-funded seismic-acoustic
sensors system being installed along the Egypt-Gaza border -
was delayed due to "small technical changes" requested by MOD
(ref A),but added that Tantawi had agreed in January to
accelerate the project's implementation (ref B). (Comment:
In February, Tantawi severed the satellite link necessary to
calibrate seismic-acoustic tunnel detection equipment being
installed along the Egypt-Gaza border, in addition to
ordering the discontinuation of GPS technology used to
accurately pinpoint tunneling activity. End Comment).

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Iran
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4. (S/NF) Al-Assar said Iran's ambitious conventional and
non-conventional weapons program was a threat to regional
security. He expressed Egypt's willingness to cooperate with
regional partners for a "peaceful and political solution,"
saying the region "could not afford another conflict."
Establishing a Weapons of Mass Destruction-free zone in the
Middle East remained Egypt's priority, al-Assar continued,
because as long as Israel had a nuclear weapon, other
countries would follow. Representative Tauscher stressed the
need to send Iran a clear message that a nuclear weapons
program was "unacceptable." Tantawi stressed that "we must
refuse to let Iran have a nuclear weapon," but advised
finding a "diplomatic" solution.

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Military Transformation
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5. (S/NF) Representative Sanchez stressed the importance of
transforming military forces to address current and future
asymmetrical threats. She looked forward to increased
US-Egypt cooperation on combating emerging threats and
enabling regional countries to assume responsibility for
regional security. Switching from English to Arabic, Tantawi
agreed that future threats like counter terrorism and counter

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insurgency demanded non-conventional military capabilities.
In Egypt's case, however, he said that conventional threats
along their borders from Sudan and Libya necessitated robust
conventional capabilities. "I do not know what Qaddafi will
think tomorrow," Tantawi added, so Egypt must be prepared for
unexpected conventional threats. Tantawi finished by saying
"we are ready to be a partner" in promoting regional
stability and security.
SCOBEY