GABON AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: SECURITY DIALOGUE

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000485 DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA AND PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS GB STP SUBJECT: GABON AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: SECURITY DIALOGUE INFORMATION REF: STATE 112900 ¶1. Summary: The U.S. has a strong bilateral military cooperation relationship with both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. There are no established bilateral security dialogues between the U.S. and either country. Military and security cooperation is conducted through daily interactions with our counterparts. Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe participate in multi-lateral security cooperation platforms, such as the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Exercise and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC),which have varying levels of U.S. commitment. End Summary. ¶2. The U.S. facilitates the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Exercise, named OBANGAME, which brings together the navies of Central African countries, to discuss security issues. Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe are participants. These meetings are held at the working level. The last dialogue took place in Douala, Cameroon in September 2009 and the next meeting is in December 2009. U.S. facilitation has helped to foster continued dialogue between the neighboring countries which have wanted to work together but did not have the forum. However, most of these countries are cash-strapped and would not have been able to participate without outside support. At the last meeting in Douala, participants described the dialogue as frank and useful in terms of assessing military capabilities and political will on the part of member country national governments to support maritime security. ¶3. We also are in the process of formalizing our relationship with CEEAC and its member states. A Presidential Determination signed on September 7, 2009 concluded that furnishing defense articles and defense services to CEEAC would strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace. Relevant U.S. embassies are in the process of informing CEEAC (headquarters in Libreville) and its member states, the first step in a multi-step process to negotiate and conclude end-use, retransfer, and security agreements. At this time, there has been no commitment of tangible U.S. support for CEEAC. REDDICK