(C) AFGHANISTAN: DENMARK WILL SUPPORT POTUS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000534

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S, EUR/RPM,EUR/NB, SCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF PK DA
SUBJECT: (C) AFGHANISTAN: DENMARK WILL SUPPORT POTUS'
DECISION

REF: STATE 120807

Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In response to reftel demarche, MFA number
two Claus Grube and national security advisor Thomas
Ahrenkiel separately told the Ambassador that Denmark will
strongly support President Obama's decision on strategy for
Afghanistan. They stressed that the USG must be seen to
discuss the strategy with partners. They made clear that
Denmark does not envisage increasing its combat troops, but
has decided to increase aid to Pakistan and is considering
increasing its contribution to EUPOL. They stressed the
importance of including Denmark in the Delivery Group being
formed in Kabul to monitor the Afghan Government's
performance, and of ensuring that the Danish contingent in
Helmand be assigned one of the additional Afghan battalions
to train and partner with. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Ambassador made reftel demarche on national security
advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel and, separately, MFA number two
Claus Grube November 25. Grube was accompanied by State
Secretary Michael Zilmer-Johns. In both discussions, the
Danes welcomed the USG's consultation, were eager for
President Obama to announce the result of the strategy review
on Afghanistan, and gave assurance that their Government
would strongly support the President's decision. They
stressed the importance of the USG being seen to consult
allies both before and after the President's announcement.


3. (C) They made clear that the current level of 750 -
operating without caveat - is "the ceiling," the most combat
troops Denmark can contribute. Zilmer-Johns said the Danish
parliament demands some shift in early 2010 from combat to
training, and this requires that one of the additional Afghan
battalions to be deployed in Helmand be assigned to the Danes
for training and partnering in the field. Grube said Denmark
is considering bolstering its contribution to EUPOL by six
police officers and a couple of trainers. He made a strong
pitch for Denmark to be included in the Delivery Group being
formed in Kabul to monitor the Karzai Government's
performance, and promised that his Government would continue
to reinforce to Karzai the need to deliver on combating
corruption and providing services to the people. With regard
to civilian assistance, Grube noted the perfect fit between
USG and Danish priority areas: agriculture, education and
health.


4. (C) On Pakistan, Grube added that Denmark has decided to
increase its aid to 100 million Danish Kroner (DKK;
approximately 5DKK to the Dollar),through multilateral
organizations such as UNICEF. This, he said, was a clear
political signal, and the fact that it had been announced
before the USG came asking was a mark of Denmark's serious
commitment.
FULTON