SPAIN COMMITTED TO ADDITIONAL AFGHANISTAN

S E C R E T MADRID 001132 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE, S/SRAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2029 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SP SUBJECT: SPAIN COMMITTED TO ADDITIONAL AFGHANISTAN CONTRIBUTIONS REF: STATE 120807 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Charge spoke to Secretary General of the Presidency (and former Deputy Foreign Minister) Bernardino Leon on November 23 to convey reftel points. Leon, President Zapatero's closest foreign policy advisor, who was in the Middle East on travel with Zapatero, said that Spain was committed to doing more on Afghanistan and that he would outline specific details in a telephone conversation later in the day with NSA General Jones. Leon said that Spanish contributions were likely to include a significant increase in Civil Guard police trainers and some additional military personnel, although specific numbers would be defined in the coming days. ¶2. (U) Since the Zapatero administration allowed its self-imposed, 3000-troop cap for overseas deployments to expire at the end of 2008, there are no fixed numbers that determine Spain's ability to contribute military or civil guard forces. In the past, the Spanish MOD has conducted internal assessments that determined its capability for deployments outside the country, given current staffing, would be about 7000 troops, if unlimited funding were available and if congressional authorization could be obtained. Under Spanish law, the MOD obtains congressional authorization for all its deployments and troop levels, along with the budget allocation oversight exercised by the Spanish Congress. ¶3. (S) In addition to Post's wide dissemination of the Afghanistan strategy to key players here in Madrid, we understand that NSA General Jones did speak to Leon via VTC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Secretary Clinton plans to call Foreign Minister Moratinos, and the U.S. Office of the Under Secretary for Defense Policy will call Spanish MOD Director General for Defense Policy Luis Cuesta to reinforce Afghanistan mission needs and next steps. ¶4. (S) Leon agreed to meet with Charge on his return to Spain, most likely during the week of December 2, to follow-up on their Afghanistan discussions. Post will seek more specifics regarding Spain's planned contributions during that session. CHACON