ASSISTING AFGHANISTAN BEYOND THE AUGUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000751 SIPDIS FOR ALEX MCKNIGHT AND STACIE ZERDECKI, EUR/WE EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE S/SRAP FOR KAREN HANRAHAN SCA/A FOR ARIELLA VIEHE OSD FOR MAGGIE SADOWSKA USNATO FOR HOOT BAEZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SUBJECT: ASSISTING AFGHANISTAN BEYOND THE AUGUST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REF: STATE 74362 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Arnold A. Chacon, for reasons 1.4 (B) and (d). (C) Post has conveyed the points contained in ref A to Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense officials. They observe that Spain is fulfilling its commitments regarding Afghanistan assumed at the April 2009 NATO Summit in Strasbourg-Kehl. MFA Sub-DG for Security Manuel Acerete told Pol-Mil officer July 21 that the GOS awaits the evaluation in mid-August from General McChrystal. Acerete has shared reftel points within MFA across the security and Asia directorates and up to the level of Director General for Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Lucini. Post has yet to receive a substantive response beyond reiterations of existing Spanish commitments. Director General for Defense Policy (DIGENPOL) General Benito Raggio confirmed to Defense Attache July 23 that all Spanish election support troops were in place and at full operational capacity one month ahead of the scheduled Afghan elections. Raggio was not prepared to discuss the possibility that the additional Spanish troops might continue in Afghanistan beyond the elections. CHACON