USG-SAUDI MOI PARTNERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 000474

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR P, NEA/ARP AND DS, CENTCOM FOR POLAD AND J5,
DOE FOR DAS WBRYAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET IR IZ MARR MCAP MOPS OVP PGOV
PK, PREL, PTER, SA, YM
SUBJECT: USG-SAUDI MOI PARTNERSHIP

REF: A. RIYADH 408

B. 08 RIYADH 1778

Classified By: Ambassador Ford Fraker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. The USG has formally stood up a new Security
Assistance Organization in Saudi Arabia - Office of Program
Management-Ministry of Interior (OPM-MOI). Partnered with
the Saudi MOI, OPM-MOI built upon a previous USG-conducted
vulnerability assessment of Saudi oil production facilities
and has begun evaluating MOI training facilities. Bilateral
cooperation on the protection of Saudi critical
infrastructure, as previously reported, is of immense
importance to ensure sufficient energy supplies are available
to the U.S. and global economies. MOI has also approached us
seeking USG assistance to expand OPM-MOI's mandate by
enhancing MOI's overall professional capacity. In addition
to protecting a vital energy supply, OPM-MOI offers a
tremendous venue to strengthen the U.S.-Saudi relationship
which then allows a broadening of Saudi support on a range of
bilteral and multilateral issues. END SUMMARY.

OPM-MOI's MISSION
--------------


2. (U) OPM-MOI is an interagency Security Assistance
Organization (SAO). It is now the third USG SAO in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside the U.S. Military Training
Mission partnered with the Saudi Ministry of Defense and
Aviation, and the Office of the Program Manager-Saudi Arabian
National Guard, partnered with the Saudi Arabian National
Guard. The latter two SAOs date back decades. What is
unique of OPM-MOI, compared to these two other SAOs, is that
it is DOS-led and involves more than just a DOD component.


3. (SBU) OPM-MOI is under DOS leadership, includes both DOE
and DOD operational components, is integrated into Embassy
Riyadh, and is under COM authority. OPM-MOI is expected to
eventually be joined by DHS and U.S. Coast Guard as
additional component members. OPM-MOI will provide a cradle
to grave program for the development of the Saudi MOI's
personnel of all ranks. This organization, to be fully
funded by the SAG, was established by the formal Technical
Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed by the Secretary of State
and Minister of Interior, and now also Second Deputy Prime
Minister, HRH Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in May 2008
to partner with the Saudi MOI in protecting the Kingdom's
critical infrastructure. Both OPM-MOI senior leadership and
working level staff are now in place in the Kingdom, and
operations have begun in conjunction with establishing
OPM-MOI's full logistical, staffing and support structure.
OPM-MOI has a senior Foreign Service Officer, a retired U.S.
Army Major General, serving as the Program Manager. An
active duty U.S. Army Brigadier General heads the DOD
component tasked to train MOI's Facilities Security Force
(FSF),and a senior DOE Liaison heads the Industrial Security
component tasked with assessing security at Saudi energy
production sites and assisting MOI in enhancing its
protective capabilities at these sites. Saudi border,
maritime, nuclear, cyber and internal security are planned to
eventually be programs under OPM-MOI's mandate as it develops
its relationship with MOI.

MOI - THE BIGGEST DOG
--------------


4. (C) MOI is the largest and most domestically influential
Saudi ministry. While nominally third in the MOI leadership
hierarchy, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Naif (MbN),the son of Min
Int Prince Naif, is the de facto MOI chief. MbN is held in

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high regard by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and
well-respected by the Saudi populace for his effective work
in beating down Al Qaeda in the Kingdom and running an
effective deradicalization program which has gained wide
local and tribal support. MbN has repeatedly stated the
importance to the global economy of preventing terrorists
from attacking Saudi oil facilities, asserting the Saudi goal
is to prevent attacks from ever being carried out, and
looking to the USG to be an active partner in achieving this
goal. Embassy Riyadh, including FBI, DHS, GRPO and OPM-MOI
have thus developed extremely close working relationships
with various MOI departments. The result is operations in
the USG interest can be conducted in a highly effective and
cooperative manner within the Kingdom.

ONGOING PROJECTS
--------------


5. (C) As OPM-MOI moves forward, there remain various
logistical and technical issues to be resolved within the
interagency, and bilaterally with the Saudis. The major
USG-SAG issue is amending the TCA to allow the Saudis to fund
all USG direct-hire positions. After intense, but highly
cooperative, negotiations, it appears this may be resolved
through an exchange of letters between the Department and
MOI. We are also working contractual funding issues (Project
Specific Agreements and Letter of Offer and Acceptance) with
MOI. We expect these to be settled in April. This in turn
would resolve the pending interagency funding/logistical
issues.


6. (C) While OPM-MOI is only just now off the ground, the
Saudis have come to us seeking quick assistance in developing
their own capacity and expanding the OPM-MOI mandate. We are
working within the interagency to:

- Provide U.S.-based English language/management training for
select MOI officers;
- Assist in hiring bilingual AmCit contractors to work the
foreign military sales and contractual issues for MOI;
- Advise on which private infrastructure protection products
are most suitable to their needs; - Develop a U.S.
educator/trainer program linked to U.S. universities for MOI
officers and NCOs;
- Send a young, high-caliber MOI member on an exchange to a
U.S. military service academy;
- Construct an internal MOI department tasked with
professional leadership development of MOI staff.

Additionally, Embassy Riyadh will host a bilateral working
group conference on April 19-21, in preparation for the
second Joint Commission for Critical Infrastructure
Protection session later this year.

COMMENT - A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
--------------


7. (C) COMMENT. OPM-MOI offers us tremendous opportunities
with Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the Muslim world.
Commercially, U.S. companies have the potential of achieving
hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in long-term
contracts. OPM-MOI will employ hundreds of AmCits in the
Kingdom as trainers, educators, facilities evaluators and
support staff, allowing U.S. working level relationships to
be expanded within MOI. Successfully implementing this
critical infrastructure program will allow us to become
closer to the most powerful and influential Saudi ministry.
In addition to the critical infrastructure protection
advantages OPM-MOI will provide us, it will give us greater
influence on a host of regional, economic, political and

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security issues involving Saudi Arabia. END COMMENT.
FRAKER