DENMARK: INFORMATION ON SECURITY DIALOGUES

UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000499

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM, EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL DA
SUBJECT: DENMARK: INFORMATION ON SECURITY DIALOGUES

REF: STATE 112900

(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT
FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


1. (SBU) In response to reftel, the U.S. and Denmark do not
have an established security dialogue per se outside of NATO
channels, but do coordinate closely on a broad range of
security issues, specifically:

-- Denmark has participated as a Cat III partner in the Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) Program since 2007; as such, not only is
Denmark fully integrated into the development and testing
process, but it also has one Royal Danish Air Force officer
assigned to the JSF Program Office in Washington, and another
assigned to the JSF test program at Edwards AFB; all dialogue
is handled through the JSF Program Office.

-- Denmark has participated in the Foreign Comparative
Testing (FCT) Program since 2006. It is currently involved
in two FCT projects: U.S. Army's Area Mine Clearing System,
and U.S. Special Forces Command Improved Crew-Served Weapon
Mount. The Foreign Comparative Testing Forum is the dialogue
mechanism which guides bilateral cooperation and plans future
projects; it last met in March 2008; the next meeting will be
early 2010.

-- The U.S. Navy and Denmark participate in regular dialogue
associated with five Data Exchange Agreements: Underwater
Acoustic and Non-Acoustic Research, Naval Tactical Command,
Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Systems, Mine
Warfare, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Surface Warfare
Systems Technology.


2. (SBU) Other than its participation in NATO, the one
security relationship which comes closest to a formal
security dialogue with the U.S. is the U.S.-Denmark Permanent
Committee on Greenland, which deals with issues relating to
Thule Air Base. This dialogue is an effective and useful
mechanism to discuss and resolve military and non-military
matters that involve this strategic High North base. The
most recent meeting was held in Copenhagen in May 2009; the
next meeting will likely be held in Washington in May 2010.
Participants include senior representatives from the U.S. and
Denmark, with Greenlandic representatives participating as
members of the Danish delegation.


3. (SBU) Lastly, both U.S. and Denmark are members of the
multi-lateral Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of
Somalia, which coordinates the activities and provides
mission guidance to Task Force 150 and Task Force 151, which
currently conduct multinational anti-piracy patrol missions.
FULTON