DENMARK WELCOMES U.S. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000154 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/A REOTT, EUR/PM COPE, EUR/ERA WEIDFIELD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019 TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS EAID AF PK DA SUBJECT: DENMARK WELCOMES U.S. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN CONCLUSIONS REF: A. STATE 28929 ¶B. STATE 29482 Classified By: Charge Terence McCulley, reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) Danish officials responded positively to reftel messages on the outcome of our Afghanistan/Pakistan policy review, highlighting broad agreement with our approach, welcoming our renewed commitments and expressing gratitude for previewing the message in advance of President Obama's public announcement. A/DCM shared our messages with Danish MFA Head of Department for Asia and Latin America Martin Hermann and Head of Security Policy Lone Wisborg, who had previously provided detailed input for use in the policy review and who noted with satisfaction the many commonalities between their views and the final U.S. conclusions. ¶2. (C) Charge delivered the Ref (B) white paper March 27 to Thomas Ahrenkiel, Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen's national security advisor, who likewise expressed gratitude for our openness and collaboration with Denmark in conducting this review. Ahrenkiel noted that PM Rasmussen had briefed the parliamentary foreign policy committee earlier that day and underscored how closely the U.S, had worked with Denmark and other Allies on this review. Ahrenkiel welcomed our emphasis on developing local and provincial capacity, government reform, and a better balance between military and civilian efforts. On Pakistan, Ahrenkiel allowed that Denmark was still weighing whether to participate in the Tokyo donors conference but reported that PM Rasmussen had recently become personally engaged and a Danish role now seemed more probable. MCCULLEY