Ecuadorian Navy Proposes Info-Sharing Agreement

S E C R E T QUITO 001049 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2029/12/21 TAGS: PREL MARR PINR SNAR MASS MOPS EC SUBJECT: Ecuadorian Navy Proposes Info-Sharing Agreement REF: HOTR IIR 6 828 0059 10; QUITO 883 CLASSIFIED BY: Heather M.... id: 241024 date: 12/21/2009 20:12 refid: 09QUITO1049 origin: Embassy Quito classification: SECRET//NOFORN destination: 09QUITO883 header: VZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #1049/01 3552012 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O R 212012Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0578 INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFISS/CNO WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH J2 RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T QUITO 001049 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2029/12/21 TAGS: PREL MARR PINR SNAR MASS MOPS EC SUBJECT: Ecuadorian Navy Proposes Info-Sharing Agreement REF: HOTR IIR 6 828 0059 10; QUITO 883 CLASSIFIED BY: Heather M. Hodges, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(A),(B), (C),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Navy Commander Admiral Molestina approached the Embassy on September 1 to propose formalizing information sharing between the Ecuadorian Navy and USG. While Molestina's motivation for signing such an agreement may include protecting his own position and his personnel, other contacts within the Ecuadorian Navy claim that the timing is good to formalize intelligence cooperation. Such an agreement should be limited in scope initially, but allow for future expansion. The Embassy supports this initiative as a counter to increasing resistance by the Ecuadorian military to engage with the USG. End Summary. Navy Suggests Information Sharing Agreement -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Navy Commander Admiral Aland Molestina asked the Embassy's Naval Attache on September 1 to initiate a request to formalize information sharing between the Ecuadorian Navy and USG (Ref B),to focus on maritime interdiction. The Defense Attache Office in Quito has worked with counterparts in the U.S. intelligence community and USSOUTHCOM to confirm the viability of such cooperation, with positive feedback to date. ¶3. (C) Admiral Molestina explained that his motives for this request were to ensure continued cooperation after potential changes in military leadership in the next few months and to protect personnel from unwanted political and judicial prosecution. Molestina, who is also a candidate to become the next Chief of Defense, may want to ensure that any intelligence relationship with the USG is fully disclosed. Molestina has already raised the idea with Minister of Defense Javier Ponce (Ref A). ¶4. (C) The USG signed two special unit information sharing agreements with the Ecuadorian National Police in July 2009. The Ecuadorian Navy has cited these agreements as a model for an information sharing agreement between the two navies. According to Ecuadorian Navy contacts, the current Ecuadorian political climate is right to forge and receive approval for such an agreement. Initially Limited But Open to Future Expansion -------------- - ¶5. (C) Any information sharing agreement between the U.S. and Ecuadorian navies that would most likely be limited in scope -- defining the Ecuadorian Navy's role in support of U.S. efforts to combat illicit activities in and around Ecuadorian maritime and territorial domains. However, any such agreement should permit multiple USG agencies to work at multiple levels with the Ecuadorian Navy and associated agencies as necessary. In addition, such an agreement should allow for future expansion to other agencies or activities, following interagency coordination and concurrence. ¶6. (S/NF) The Embassy supports establishing an information sharing agreement between the U.S. and Ecuadorian navies. The Ecuadorian Navy is currently the main player in interdiction and we need to maintain cooperation. Signing an agreement would also mark a departure from an increasingly negative trend in Ecuador to limit military-to-military relations (Ref B). HODGES =======================CABLE ENDS============================