ANGOLAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS SUPPORTIVE OF ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000775

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PREL MAAR MOPS AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS SUPPORTIVE OF ENGAGEMENT
DURING HOLMES VISIT

REF: LUANDA 760

(U) Classified by CDA Jeff Hawkins, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. The Angolan defense establishment rolled out
the red carpet for visiting AFRICOM Deputy to the Commander
Ambassador Tony Holmes during his December 15-16 visit, with
calls on the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Angola
(FAA),the acting Minister of Defense, and the Commander of
the Angolan Navy. Holmes told his Angolan interlocutors how
important AFRICOM and the USG generally considered Angola and
sought Angolan views on common defense issues. The Angolan
officials praised on-going engagement with the U.S. -
particularly in the health, English language teaching, and
engineering spheres - but also made clear that deepened
engagement would come as a result of a "political decision"
at the highest levels. There was in-depth dialog on
developments in the DRC (covered reftel). Holmes's meetings
suggested a strong interest in working with the United States
on the part of the Angolan armed forces, but caution on the
part of FAA officers until they had the proper signal from
their political leadership. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Deputy to the Commander of AFRICOM Ambassador Tony
Holmes visited Angola December 15-16. Holmes met with the
acting Minister of Defense Gaspar Rufino, Chief of Staff of
the Armed Forces General Francisco Furtado, and Commander of
the Navy Admiral Augusto da Silva Cunha. He dined with Vice
Ministers of Defense and Interior, toured a military HIV/AIDS
program partially supported by the USG, visited Luanda's
naval base, and discussed maritime security with oil company
officials. Holmes also conducted a series of interviews on
AFRICOM and U.S.-Angola military engagement with some of
Angola's most influential media outlets.


3. (C) Holmes's message to his Angolan interlocutors was
straightforward. Holmes told both FAA Chief of Staff Furtado
and acting Defense Minister Rufino that the United States and
Angola shared a range of common interests and concerns and
that AFRICOM was committed to deepened engagement with
Angola. Holmes noted the positive trend in overall bilateral
relations, and pointed out that Angola was one of only four
countries in Africa with which the USG was undertaking formal
bilateral consultations. Holmes said he had come to Luanda
to listen to Angolan priorities so that AFRICOM could shape
its engagement with Angolan views in mind. Holmes
highlighted the importance of peace support operations, and
AFRICOM's interest in working with Angola in this area.


4. (C) FAA Chief General Furtado laid out the Angolan
military's objectives for engagement. He overviewed for
Holmes the various areas where the FAA was cooperating with
the U.S. military, with a particular emphasis on the strong
cooperation in HIV/AIDS programs and English language
instruction. Furtado cited the FAA's interest in developing
language skills as a part of its training for peace keeping
operations and his desire for USG help in training for
American-purchased engineering equipment. Furtado stressed
that the FAA's most important engagements were with SADC and
CEEAC, citing Angola's participation in the expected
September stand-up of the SADC standby brigade and Angola's
hosting of the Kwanza 2010 exercise. He noted that deeper
engagement with the United States was under review at MOD and
that there would be a response "in due time."


5. (C) Acting Defense Minister Rufino offered a similar
message. He too highlighted Angola's ongoing engagements
with the United States, citing HIV/AIDS, English language
training, engineering, and ship visits. Rufino praised a
2005 MEDFLAG medical exercise and a proposed February English
language training proposal, but downplayed the value of the
limited training of Angolan officers had had in the United
States. Rufino raised a proposed MOU governing mil-mil
cooperation and told Holmes this was still under
consideration at MOD. Rufino left his U.S. visitors with the
impression that MOD was still considering just how far it
wanted to take engagement; "the future will reveal the
magnitude of our military cooperation," he said.


6. (SBU) Holmes's visit earned significant press coverage.
Embassy arranged for a series of television, radio and press
interviews. Angola's major daily newspaper, the "Jornal de
Angola," ran a full page story on December 21. The coverage
gave Holmes ample opportunity to bring the USG message on
mil-mil engagement with Angola to wider Angolan public.


7. (C) Comment. The GRA rolled out the red carpet for
Ambassador Holmes. Given the extent of the access MOD and
FAA accorded him, it was clear they welcomed the visit and
appreciated exchange with AFRICOM. It also appears that the

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Angolans wanted Holmes to walk away with a two-part message.
The first is that the military itself values engagement with
the U.S. military and, all things being equal, would
appreciate more. The second is that the FAA continues to
wait for guidance from senior leadership before engaging more
deeply. Navy Chief Cunha, for example, told Holmes that,
while the Navy wanted to work with the U.S., "we're
implementers; other actions need to be taken in the political
arena first." MOD Director for International Affairs Admiral
Miau delivered the same message, on two different occasions;
"cooperation is a political decision, to be decided by our
leadership," he said. Accordingly, the USG will have to
ensure support for deepened cooperation at the highest level
before we can count on a significantly deepened relationship.
End Comment.


8. (U) Ambassador Holmes did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable before departing post.
HAWKINS