CONTRIBUTING TO NATO,S LONG-TERM COUNTER-PIRACY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 058992

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR NATO PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: CONTRIBUTING TO NATO,S LONG-TERM COUNTER-PIRACY
OPERATIONS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA.

REF: USNATO 227


1. (U) Summary: At the strong urging of the United
States, NATO is moving forward with a long-term
counter-piracy mission (Operation Ocean Shield). On June
5, Allies agreed to a concept of operations (CONOPS) for a
year-long counter piracy mission and are expected to
pledge forces at a conference on June 10 at SHAPE. Defense
Ministers are expected to address force generation
shortfalls on June 11 and 12. The U.S. will contribute
additional assets to NATO's efforts that may include naval
vessels, logistics, communications and intelligence, and
contributions to a NATO capacity building effort for
regional states. The U.S. already has seven assets,
including ships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft
working on counter-piracy on both CMF and NATO Operations.


2. (U) Some Allies notably Germany, France, The
Netherlands and Belgium have said at a May 22 meeting at
SHAPE that they are doing enough through the EU ATALANTA
mission. This is not a zero-sum game between the EU and NATO.
Each of these nations has the responsibility to do more. The
EU's 13 vessels engaged in counter-piracy operations are not
sufficient for the area's 2.4 million square nautical
miles of waters. Some EU nations also have said a long-
term NATO operation would require a solid legal framework
for transferring pirates to third parties before more
Allies would be willing to contribute assets. NATO legal
advisors are traveling to African regional states to
negotiate NATO's position regarding its legal framework and
transfer of detained pirates. The lack of a third party
agreement, though, has not stopped NATO's current
counter-piracy mission, which has proven to be successful
in spite of not yet having concluded an agreement with Kenya
or another state on prosecution of detained pirates.


3. (U) NATO naval inventories, cataloged in the
regular NATO Defense Planning Questionnaire (DPQ),
demonstrate that Allies clearly have more ships than the
13 or so participating in EU's ATALANTA mission. Some
Allies favor engaging the Standing NATO Maritime Group
component in the NATO counter-piracy operation. NATO
nations may also bring assets such as maritime patrol
aircraft to this mission.


4. (U) ACTION Request: Posts are requested to deliver
the following demarche to capitals on June 9 in preparation
for the June 10 force generation conference at SHAPE:

-- The U.S. is planning to make a contribution at
the June 10 counter-piracy force generation conference in
support of NATO's Operation Ocean Shield.

-- It is paramount that Allies provide resources
to NATO's force generation effort.

-- Contributions to NATO's or the EU's
counter-piracy operations are not a zero-sum game.

STATE 00058992 002 OF 002


NATO, the EU, CTF 151, working with the Contact Group
on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) can help
protect 2.4 million square miles in the Indian Ocean
from Somalia's pirates. Allies, even those contributing
to ATALANTA should contribute to NATO counter-piracy
operations.

-- A look at NATO naval inventories as catalogued
in the NATO Defense Planning Questionnaire demonstrate
that Allies have more ships and assets than the 13 or so
now participating in ATALANTA.

-- It would be appropriate to use NATO's
Standing Naval Maritime Group (SNMG) to support NATO's
counter-piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield.

-- NATO contributions have a qualitatively unique
capability for command and control, coordination and
intelligence.


5. (U) Posts are requested to report host government
reactions and comments to EUR/RPM Peter Chisholm at
ChisholmPT@state.gov.
CLINTON