US-TUNISIAN JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION PRODUCES

S E C R E T TUNIS 000314 NOFORN SIPDIS DOD FOR OSD (DASD WHELAN) AND OSD/ISA/NESA STATE FOR PM/RSAT(DANIELEWSKI) NEA/MAG (HAYES) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: MASS MARR PREL TS SUBJECT: US-TUNISIAN JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION PRODUCES BETTER TUNISIAN BRIEFINGS BUT MANY DETAILS STILL LACKING Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The May 11-13 US-Tunisian Joint Military Commission (JMC) saw productive exchanges on a variety of topics relating to bilateral military cooperation. The Tunisians were more forthcoming than they have been in recent years about their priorities with respect to military assistance needs, although they did not provide a comprehensive planning document laying out these priorities in detail and how they intendto use Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and other means to meet them. In the coming weeks, the Mission will review FMF and other US assistance here in light of the JMC and other developments in US-Tunisian bilateral relations, including issues related to the American Cooperative School of Tunis. End Summary. -------------- Setting the Stage -------------- ¶2. (C) On May 7, prior to the formal commencement of the 24th US-Tunisian JMC, DASD Whelan met with Defense Minister Morjane. In this meeting, both Morjane and Whelan expressed appreciation for the long-standing military cooperation between our two countries, noting our historic relationship and friendly ties. Morjane was particularly grateful for the provision of ground surveillance radar (GSR) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),which will help the Tunisian military patrol the border. Whelan made clear that the United States Government was pleased to be able to help Tunisia better secure its borders. She noted, however, that the current economic environment would have an impact on foreign assistance. "We may not be able to sustain" current levels of military assistance to Tunisia, she explained. ¶3. (C) DASD Whelan underscored that the economic crisis made it all the more important for th USG to understand Tunisian military needs and prorities, explaining that such information is criical to US planning and delivery of military assstance. In addition, she addressed the need to ave regular communications, to ensure that the US-unisian military partnership stays strong and effctive. (Note: She did not specifically mention S disappointment oer the conditions imposed by he GOT on the ATLAS DROP exercise, but it was clar that this incident was symptomatic of the prolem to which she was alluding.) Morjane agreed, bu noted that Tunisia's relatively small military mposes constraints on the number of commitments hat they can take on. He specified that Tunisiahas 11 joint military commissions with various cuntries, including one just created with Belgium nd noted that during the last year the Tunisian ilitary had taken part in over 300 military actiities, including 100 days, worth of activities wit the United States. Whelan said the United Stats was interested more in the quality of the relationship, rather than the quantity of joint activities. ¶4. (S/NF) Follown their 30-minute meeting, DASD Whelan and DefMi Morjane adjourned to his office for a restricted meeting, which also included Ambassador Godec on he US side; and Director General for Military Seurity Brigadier General Mohamed Meddeb, Colonel bdelkader Adouni, and Major Chiheb Khelifa on theTunisian side. Morjane and Whelan repeated the hemes addressed in the broader meeting, with Whela underscoring that the USG needs more precision bout Tunisia's requirements to better guard against the threat posed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. General Meddeb opined that better military-military intelligence cooperation would help. He recalled that in the 1980's the United States used to provide daily updates about Soviet ship movements in the Mediterranean, suggesting that this kind of information-sharing was an appropriate model. Whalen said the US side would seek to strengthen this area. -------------- Productive Working Sessions -------------- ¶5. (C) The JMC itself proceeded as planned, with positive but quite general exchanges in the plenary, with more detailed briefings in the Subcommittees on Security Assistance and on Military Cooperation. (Note: The minutes of these sessions have been emailed to PM/RSAT and NEA/MAG.) US participants described the Tunisian briefings as "more forthcoming than ever," but still not quite reaching the level of precision that the US side requires for planning purposes. Specifically, the Tunisians did not provide a comprehensive five-year planning document laying out in detail their military assistance priorities and how they intend to use FMF and other means to meet them. ¶6. (SBU) Highlights of the working sessions included: -- A briefing on the Tunisian Army's top military assistance priorities, i.e., light weapons, individual protection, NVDs, GPS, laser range finders, aiming point devices, HWMMW and shelters, chemical gear, EOD gear, parachutes, and support vehicles. -- A briefing on the Tunisian Air Force's top priorities, i.e., upgrading F5 and T53 engines and C130 pilot training. Secondary priority was given to EDA C130H and SH-60, J85-21C engines for the F5 and T56 engines for C130, sustainment of the UH-1, upgrade for the C130B, a UH-1H simulator, and initial pilot training for graduating cadets. -- The Tunisian side also requested as a top priority two Protector Class (or equivalent 25 meter) coastal patrol boats, which the Tunisian military intends to supplement with an additional two coastal patrol boats by FY12. -- The Tunisian side briefed on the Tunisian medical organization, requesting US assistance for its intensive care unit and burn unit, as well as in the area of aerospace physiology. -- The Tunisian side briefed on the military's civilian development/engineering project in R'Jim Maatoug, located south of Kebili. Both in Morjane's plenary statement and in the more detailed briefing in the military cooperation subcommittee, the project was held up as a model for potential US-Tunisian cooperation in humanitarian assistance. The US side expressed openness to considering future projects in conjunction with the Tunisian Ministry of Defense along the lines of the R'Jim Maatoug project, which the Italians helped fund. -- On the US side, the Tunisians welcomed the briefing on the Scan Eagle Unmanned Air System, noting that a site survey by the US program office would be required to better assess support requirements. After repeated requests, the Tunisians permitted a site visit along the Tunisian-Algerian border to review issues related to deployment of GSRs and UAVs. The Tunisians were invited to observe as part of AFRICOM's mil-mil program the US Marine Corps exercise Mohave Viper at 29 Palms training area in California June 1-4, 2009 where USMC employs Scan Eagle UAV as part of its predeployment training. (Note: The Tunisian Military accepted this offer on May 20, sending the Embassy the names of two Air Force officers.) -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Although the session was productive, and the Tunisian side more forthcoming than it has been in recent years about its priorities with respect to military assistance needs, there was still an absence of precision in some of the Tunisian briefings. In the coming weeks, the Mission will review FMF and other US assistance here in light of the JMC and other developments in US-Tunisian bilateral relations, including the future of the American Cooperative School of Tunis. End Comment. ¶8. (SBU) DASD Whelan did not have a chance to clear this cable prior to departing Post. Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm Godec