Canada Broadly Support U.S. Strategy for NATO Enlargement

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000827 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CA, EUR/FO, AND EUR/RPM BELGRADE PASS PODGORICA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/06 TAGS: PREL NATO PARM MARR KTIA BK GG MK MW UP CA SUBJECT: Canada Broadly Support U.S. Strategy for NATO Enlargement REF: STATE 113840; STATE 111987; USNATO 465 OTTAWA 00000827 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Kurt van der Walde, Acting Political Counselor, Embassy Ottawa, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Canada broadly supports U.S. goals with respect to NATO enlargement, including strong support for Ukraine's NATO aspirations, although Canada wants to see more evidence of reform. Bosnia represents the one area of divergence, as Canada supports the Membership Action Plan (MAP) process as a tool to advance reform. It will not hold up consensus over the issue. End summary. ¶2. (C) POLMILOFF discussed ref A points on NATO enlargement with Kelly Anderson, Deputy Director for NATO and OSCE Policy in the Defense and Security Relations Division of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). She was joined by Nancy Clark, Policy Advisor for NATO Enlargement in the same office. They took note of the U.S. policy objectives and shared that Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon will decide Canada's NATO enlargement policy next week. ¶3. (C) The DFAIT officers said that Cannon will likely approve a policy that supports both MAP candidates. They understand and share U.S. concerns about the readiness of Bosnian governmental institutions and political structures to successfully participate in the MAP process, but they view MAP as a tool that can be used to encourage reform. Canada believes that there should be no preconditions set for MAP participation, but the Deputy Director assured us that Canada would not hold up consensus over the issue. ¶4. (C) Canada agrees with the U.S. that MAP should not be reopened, concluding that it would show the divisions within NATO. It is important, however, to ensure that Ukraine and Georgia understand that the two new MAP candidates are not "jumping the queue." There is a need for the right language at the Ministerial that will convey the message that an Annual National Plan (ANP) and MAP are two ways to reach the same goal, which in the case of Ukraine is NATO membership. Canada believes that Ukraine and Georgia should be reassured that they are "one step up" on Montenegro and Bosnia, since they have individual mechanisms for engagement with NATO. ¶5. (C) Holding a NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting in conjunction with the December Ministerial as proposed by the NATO Secretary General would go a long way toward sending this positive message to Ukraine. Canada cautions, however, that the path toward NATO membership cannot be a one-way street. Canada is a strong supporter of Ukraine's NATO aspirations, but DFAIT maintains there is a need to see actual reform take place. The DFAIT officers do not believe that there is evidence of reform, and argue that Ukraine must meet its objectives in order to demonstrate it is a OTTAWA 00000827 002.2 OF 002 reliable ally. Canada has also sought to persuade Ukraine that reopening MAP is not in its interest. ¶6. (C) Ukraine has lobbied Canada extensively on this issue, contending that the prospect of NATO membership is an important factor on the internal political scene, and that without it, pro-Russian political elements opposed to reform may benefit. Canada's view is that ANP is the way forward for Ukraine, and that it is ultimately up to the Ukrainian people to decide who they elect. The DFAIT officers emphasized that it must be made clear to Moscow that the decision not to pursue MAP for Ukraine was not made "because the Russians said no." JACOBSON