GROWING USG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOZAMBICAN NAVY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000288 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CONFIDENTIAL CABLE WITH PORTION OF S/NF) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PMIL MZ SUBJECT: GROWING USG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOZAMBICAN NAVY REF: A. MAPUTO 1081 ¶B. MAPUTO 1082 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd Chapman for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Rear Admiral William P. Loeffler, Director of Strategy, Plans and Resources for United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa, visited Mozambique in conjunction with the February 6-13 port call of the USS ROBERT G. BRADLEY. Rear Admiral Loeffler discussed the Government of Mozambique's (GRM) efforts to protect its extensive coastline with the GRM's Vice Minister of Defense Augusto Mondlane, Vice Chief of Defense Agostinho Mondlane, Director of Defense Policy Brigadier General Macajo, and Commander of the Navy Contra Almirante Patricio Yotamo, participated in a Maritime Domain Donor Harmonization Roundtable, discussed Counter Narcotics and Terrorism issues with senior Embassy staff, and gave an exclusive interview with national press. Mozambican Minister of Defense Filipe Nhussi, accompanied by Captain Nicholas Holman and Commander Clinton Carroll, toured the BRADLEY on her last day in port. The crew of the BRADLEY and the accompanying "Top Brass" band carried out a successful and demanding schedule of public outreach works and events. The BRADLEY visit was the second port call by a US warship to Maputo since Mozambican independence and the first ever pier side visit. END SUMMARY. -------------- SECURE COASTLINE LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH -------------- ¶2. (C) Rear Admiral Loeffler discussed the US Navy's global maritime strategy and Mozambique's efforts to protect its lengthy coastline with the Mozambican Vice Minister of Defense, Director of National Defense Policy, Director of Defense Intelligence, and Commander of the Navy. The Rear Admiral emphasized the linkage between maritime safety and security and economic growth and prosperity for the people of Mozambique. The Vice Minister agreed, noting that enhanced security and citizen welfare are two of the primary goals of the GRM. The Vice Minister expressed satisfaction with USG-Mozambican military cooperation, making particular note of the recently dedicated Maputo Military Day Clinic, the AIS system, as well as the various boats and training provided to the Mozambican Navy. -------------- MARITIME DOMAIN ROUNDTABLE -------------- 
¶3. (C) Rear Admiral Loeffler and the Charge d'Affaires hosted a roundtable with representatives from the Embassies of India, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Portugal, Norway, South Africa, along with the World Wildlife Fund. The Rear Admiral summarized USG efforts to improve maritime safety and security in South and East Africa, including Mozambique, focusing on the U.S. Navy's maritime strategy. The ensuing discussion identified opportunities for harmonization among the Norwegian, Portuguese, and the Dutch maritime activities. Attendees called for future discussions to facilitate and synchronize multinational efforts. -------------- COUNTER NARCOTICS AND TERRORISM -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) At a special country team meeting, the Charge d'Affaires and members of the Embassy Senior Staff presented information on the trafficking of narcotics and possible linkages to terrorists active in Mozambique. Rear Admiral Loeffler noted the potential for growth of terrorism and smuggling in the country, particularly the vulnerability of Mozambique's vast maritime border to trafficking, identified areas of mutual cooperation and support, encouraging a whole of government approach to coordination of activities. -------------- NATIONAL PRESS INTERVIEW ON AFRICA COMMAND -------------- ¶5. (U) The Embassy arranged a press roundtable for the Rear Admiral to discuss bilateral defense relations and also to launch--for the first time in the public sphere in Mozambique--the Africa Partnership Station (APS). During the 45-minute discussion, the Rear Admiral engaged representatives from national television TVM, national radio station Radio Mocambique, leading independent television STV, national wire service AIM, Reuters, AFP and a new weekly newspaper A Verdade. Subsequent press reports were neutral-to-positive and focused on the training capabilities that the US military is providing Mozambique, APS as a program and the visiting ship itself. While the first question to the Rear Admiral (from TVM) was on piracy off the coast of Somalia, press reports have not covered that discussion. (NOTE: Journalists also asked the question to the Navy commander during the media ship tour on February 10; both responses mentioned the severity of the issue but that the USS ROBERT BRADLEY itself was not on an anti-piracy mission. END NOTE). -------------- COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES -------------- ¶6. (U) The Mozambican Minister of Defense received a special tour conducted by TF363 Commodore and the BRADLEY's Commanding Officer. The Minister spent more than an hour on board the Bradley during her last day in port. Office calls with the newly elected mayor of Maputo by the TF363 Commodore and the BRADLEY's Commanding Officer marked the mayor's first foreign delegation office call. ¶7. (U) USS ROBERT G BRADLEY crew and the US Naval Forces Europe and Africa band "Top Brass" carried out an active and highly successful community relations program. The band gave ten concerts drawing as many as a thousand spectators from the local communities. Over one-third of the ship's company participated in repair and refurbishment projects at the Arco Iris orphanage, delivering two pallets of medical and hygiene products donated through Project Handclasp; and at the Hamza Institute, a Muslim community center, painting classrooms and interacting with students. A blood drive supported by BRADLEY and Embassy personnel resulted in over 120 units donated. 100 to 150 BRADLEY sailors informally represented the United States on liberty each day of the visit. -------------- --- COMMENT: READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP -------------- --- ¶8. (SBU) Rear Admiral Loeffler's visit reinforced the USG's support of improved maritime capability and capacity and coordinated counterterrorism efforts. Additionally, it afforded an opportunity for the senior leadership of Naval Forces Africa to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions regarding the US Africa Command and its component headquarters. The visit was well-received by the Mozambican military and the international diplomatic community; an ongoing series of visits by senior leaders should further lessen concerns among some in Mozambique of US Africa Command's purpose in the region. ¶9. (SBU) The highly successful visit of USS ROBERT G BRADLEY and Rear Admiral Loeffler complement ongoing Embassy and NAVAFRICA efforts to improve maritime safety and security in Mozambique, and highlights the importance of future programs, including FY09 Section 1206 maritime proposals. Implementation of these proposals will significantly improve the GRM's ability to assert control over its national waters, and deter illegal access for trafficking and terrorist activities. Chapman