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.

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SECURE COASTLINE LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH
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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.

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MARITIME DOMAIN ROUNDTABLE
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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.

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COUNTER NARCOTICS AND TERRORISM
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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.

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NATIONAL PRESS INTERVIEW ON AFRICA COMMAND
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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).

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES
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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.

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COMMENT: READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP
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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