SARKOZY'S VISIT TO KUWAIT: FRENCH REACH EXCEEDS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000143 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS KU IR IZ SUBJECT: SARKOZY'S VISIT TO KUWAIT: FRENCH REACH EXCEEDS ITS GRASP? REF: PARIS 0239 Classified By: The Ambassador, reasons 1.4 (b) + (d) ¶1. (S) Summary: French President Sarkozy capped a four and a half hour visit to Kuwait February 11 with wildly optimistic statements to the press that France would provide Kuwait with modern fighter aircraft (i.e. the thus-far poorly selling Rafales),marine frigates and unspecified defense systems. Sarkozy also declared publicly France's commitment to Kuwait's security. Press reports noted the signing of two cooperation agreements, one involving visa facilitation and the other commercial relations. Immediately following Sarkozy's departure, Ambassador was advised by Kuwait's Ambassador to the US, Shaykh Salem Al Sabah, in town on personal business and close to the PM, that Kuwait would "never" purchase Rafales, although their "longstanding" naval relationship with the French meant they might well purchase additional frigates and other naval equipment and associated weaponry (Note: to the deep consternation of the Italians here, who have been trying without luck to sell two frigates to the Kuwaitis for more than a year. End note.) Shaykh Salem added that the "chemistry" between the French President and the Amir had been "bad." Nonetheless, the Amir received the Mayor of Paris the following day, who happened to be in Kuwait "by chance." We understand the French Minister of Defense, who accompanied Sarkozy, will return to Kuwait on Monday, February 23. End summary. ¶2. (C) Arriving February 11 in a blinding sandstorm that -- combined with the French President's secretive and fluid schedule, given his travel to Iraq -- nearly prompted the Kuwaitis to cancel the visit within hours of his anticipated arrival (according to the French ambassador here),Sarkozy, accompanied by his ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade, had time for a 40 minute meeting with the Amir; a "short" meeting with the Prime Minister, Shaykh Nasser Mohamed Al Sabah; a press conference; and an hour and a half long "state dinner," at which he appeared exhausted and distracted, before jetting off again. Local press characterized the visit as a "bilateral summit," highlighting Sarkozy's public commitment to the defense of Kuwait's security and his assertion that Kuwait was interested in purchasing French Rafale fighter aircraft. Several media commentators made positive reference to France's participation in the 1991 liberation coalition. ¶3. (C) Briefing his EU, UK and US counterparts on February 18, French Ambassador to Kuwait Jean-Rene Gehan, was more nuanced. Gehan explained that his President's visit to Oman, Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait was designed to highlight France's commitment to reinforcing its presence in the region in line with its "Defense White Book" designation of the Gulf as a strategic "priority zone." Gehan said France sought to reinforce the "operational cooperative" aspect of France's 1992 Defense Cooperation Agreement with Kuwait through the sale of armaments such as the Rafale fighter. Gehan underscored France's longstanding defense relationship with Kuwait, manifest in regular exercises such as the "Pearl of the West" joint maritime exercise planned for April. He added that France's dependence on Kuwaiti oil meant a significant trade deficit they wished to address, as well as seeking to revitalize their long-standing Joint Commission on nuclear energy. (Gehan acknowledged that this issue had been raised with the Amir but "not in detail.") Gehan said he could not discuss the"economic specifics" publicly but allowed the two sides had reached "agreement on partnership principles," and the need to identify compatible fields and companies for cooperation; a Joint Economic Committee would meet in June with the goal of improving France's current trade with Kuwait of about $1.4b annually. ¶4. (C) Turning to regional issues, Gehan said, while Sarkozy was enthusiastic about his visit to Iraq, the Amir had been "pessimistic" on Iraq's stability following the US withdrawal (reftel) but was short on specifics. Similarly, he expressed pessimism on Iran's internal political situation, suggesting that Khatami "had a chance" to beat Ahmadi-Nejad in the June elections but also reporting that Khatami recently had been attacked physically, beaten by someone opposed to his candidacy (NFI),and that the Amir feared he might be intimidated into withdrawing. On Gaza, the Amir expressed gratitude for France's support for Egypt's leading role in reconciling Palestinian factions. Gehan said the Amir had alluded to Qatar's negative role only in general terms, without naming Qatar. Contrary to press reports, Gehan said Syria was not discussed. ¶5. (S) Comment: Kuwait has long pursued a policy of multiple security partners, including the US, France, Russia KUWAIT 00000143 002 OF 002 and China, generally giving priority to those nations who participated in the 1991 liberation. While the French side has been publicly enthusiastic about this visit and the potential for Rafale fighter sales, privately they acknowledge the glacial pace at which decisions are taken here and the inevitable parliamentary obstructionism, especially when it comes to large price tags. Our own sources within the Ministry of Defense here expressed surprise and consternation at the Rafale "announcement." Most notably, the GOK leadership has remained publicly silent on the matter, and all indicators are that the Amir listened with polite receptivity, as is his wont, to a French sales pitch that doubtless combined offers of protective presence of one sort or another (perhaps specifically related to Iran, given GOK concerns over what they perceive to be an overly conciliatory US approach) without making any commitments. Of course, given Kuwait's frustrations with our similarly glacial FMS process, they never mind watching us squirm a bit at the thought of competition. We will continue to track these developments closely. End comment. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES