SCENESETTER FOR MAJORITY LEADER HOYER'S VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COPENHAGEN 000238 SIPDIS FOR H, EUR, AND EUR/NB H PLEASE PASS TO MAJORITY LEADER HOYER FOR MAJORITY LEADER HOYER FROM CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TERENCE P. MCCULLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON NATO PTER DA SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR MAJORITY LEADER HOYER'S VISIT TO COPENHAGEN Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Terence P. McCulley, reasons 1.4b ,d ¶1. (SBU) Mr. Majority Leader, welcome back to Copenhagen. Your return here is much anticipated and appreciated by the Danes, who are eager to reaffirm close U.S.-Danish ties both with the new administration and with the senior leadership of the new congress. Denmark remains one of our closest allies, and your meetings with Danish parliamentary counterparts and government leaders will reinforce the U.S.-Danish partnership as we work together to confront global threats to peace, freedom, and prosperity. Your meetings with Denmark's new prime minister and long-serving foreign minister will provide an opportunity to thank Denmark for its unflinching engagement in global hotspots such as Afghanistan, the Balkans, and the Horn of Africa. Denmark's popular and ambitious climate minister, along with your parliamentary hosts, will be keen to hear your assessment of the prospects for U.S. climate legislation that could set the negotiating parameters for the United States in December's UN Climate (COP-15) Summit, which the Danes will host in Copenhagen. And, finally, all of your interlocutors will be interested in your views on how the U.S. and Europe can work together to encourage global economic recovery. As you know, the Danes are absolutely committed to sustained, active engagement to meet these challenges in cooperation with us. A Steady Partner in the Wider World -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Denmark's commitment can be seen in its many overseas deployments, from its naval vessels on patrol off the Horn of Africa, to its peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and its battle-hardened troops engaging the Taliban in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. Danish intelligence and security services work hand in hand with ours in combating al-Qaeda at home and abroad. A world leader in alternative energy technology, Danish firms are at the forefront of developments in wind power and biofuels, strengthening Denmark's "green" credentials as it prepares to host the UN Climate Summit (COP-15) in December 2009. Denmark contributes 0.8 percent of its GDP in development and humanitarian aid, mostly to Africa but also to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories. ¶3. (SBU) Having just taken office in April following former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's selection as NATO's next secretary general, new Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen presides over a thin majority but with a commanding position against a subdued center-left opposition. Although the Danish economy experienced a healthy expansion in recent years, it, too, now is feeling the effects of the global economic crisis -- unemployment is up, exports are down, and the Danes also debate policy options among themselves and with EU partners as they work to provide policy and financial assistance to ailing neighbors like Iceland and Latvia. And while the international financial crisis draws most of the government's attention at home, Denmark is not without other domestic problems -- among them the challenges of a multicultural society. Strained relations with its 200,000-strong Muslim immigrant population were highlighted during the 2006 cartoon crisis and again last year when some of those drawings were reprinted here. ¶4. (SBU) However, even amid the global financial turmoil, the Danes have managed to maintain focus and domestic consensus on a broader foreign policy agenda that includes Afghanistan, the future of European security, Mid-East peace, and emerging threats as diverse as terrorism, piracy, and climate change. In the Danes you will find committed Atlanticists, convinced of the primacy of NATO (while looking to eliminate Denmark's EU "opt-outs" on defense, justice and the euro as soon as possible) but concerned about the Alliance's ability to meet new and ongoing challenges. Although they continue to distinguish themselves through their engagement in critical missions, the Danes have allowed their investments in defense to flag (now below 1.3 percent of GDP),with little public support for reversing that trend. Denmark will this fall choose a replacement for its current F-16 fleet, with either Lockheed Martin's JSF or the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet widely expected to best Sweden's Gripen fighter. ¶5. (C) The Danish deployment in Afghanistan enjoys broad parliamentary backing and public support, but the Danes remain troubled by the difficulties of securing greater -- and more flexible -- contributions from Allies and what this means for the future of NATO. The foreign minister and prime COPENHAGEN 00000238 002 OF 002 minister will no doubt brief you on their desire to encourage greater "solidarity" among Alliance members in Afghanistan. FM Moller visited Afghanistan in late November of last year, highlighting his skepticism of political engagement with Taliban leaders and predicting publicly that Danish forces will be present there for another 4-5 years. In the meantime, the Danes, like everyone else, watch with alarm developments in Pakistan, and have offered modest financial and other assistance to Islamabad. ¶6. (C) Denmark itself is on the front lines of the battle against extremism and terror in Europe, and the Danes are working closely with us to disrupt nascent terror cells and promote better integration of immigrant communities. Danish authorities have made a number of high-profile arrests in the past two years, including one with direct links to al-Qaeda and on which we cooperated closely. Denmark has a mixed record on prosecutions and we are now providing them with assistance in this area as well. Although the cartoons/freedom of expression issue remains something of a blind spot for the Danes, there are signs of an evolution in public opinion here; a 2008 poll showed majorities approving of the cartoon's original publication but disapproving of their re-publication. Eager to Look Ahead -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Naturally, your Danish interlocutors are keenly interested in our new administration and congress and will welcome your insights into high-priority agenda items for us over the next year. The Danes will certainly highlight their hosting of the UN COP-15 meeting here next December, which they hope will approve a new global climate change treaty and solidify Danish credentials as a leader in renewable energy. Danish Climate Minister Connie Hedegaard was recently named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential global leaders for her active and ambitious engagement on climate issues. Hedegaard has made numerous trips to Washington over the past two years to begin setting the agenda for COP-15 and to press for aggressive U.S. action in reaching a new post-Kyoto agreement. She has also hosted a significant number of your House and Senate colleagues (including Speaker Pelosi) in Greenland for climate policy-related visits. ¶8. (SBU) In addition to expressing appreciation for all Denmark has done -- especially in Afghanistan -- your meetings are an excellent opportunity to reassure the Danes that the new administration and congress are committed to working closely with European partners, particularly those such as Denmark who remain dedicated to active engagement on global challenges. Long among the most pro-American allies in Europe, the Danes approach the new U.S. administration with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, hopeful about new opportunities and a freshening of the relationship, but also concerned about maintaining a privileged position despite their relatively small size. Ultimately, such concerns will be addressed in time, but your visit offers an important opportunity to reaffirm in strong terms the enduring affection and strategic partnership between our two nations. ¶9. (SBU) Mr. Majority Leader, I look forward to welcoming you here next week. Sincerely, Terry McCulley. MCCULLEY