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