NATO ALLIES REACT POSITIVELY TO U.S. INITIATIVE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000237 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL XG RS SUBJECT: NATO ALLIES REACT POSITIVELY TO U.S. INITIATIVE ON EUROPEAN SECURITY REF: STATE 57920 Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On June 5, Ambassador Daalder briefed NATO PermReps on the U.S. initiative to use the OSCE's informal Corfu Ministerial to launch a constructive dialogue on ways to enhance European security (reftel). While noting they were speaking on an uninstructed basis, Allies expressed strong initial backing for the initiative. The discussion included particular expressions of support from Germany, Italy, and France. Canada was alone in expressing slight concern, wondering if a "forward leaning" reaction to Russia would be the best option. All understood that this initiative was to be focused on the OSCE meeting in Corfu, not NATO-Russia Council Foreign Ministerial which would also take place on the island. Allies agreed that NATO should have an instructed discussion on the U.S. talking points in order to provide Allied feedback to Washington. Such feedback could inform further discussion in Vienna, and U.S. demarches to remaining OSCE capitals. ¶2. (C) Given the impending June 12 NATO Defense Ministerial and the volume of PermRep work to prepare NATO decisions to be made there, Allies agreed to have NATO's Political Committee exchange capitals' views on this issue. They agreed that PermReps could also have a further discussion at a later stage, if they so decide. ¶3. (C) We have requested that the International Staff schedule an extra meeting of the Political Committee for an instructed discussion on this topic. According to the International Staff, the meeting would most likely take place on June 10. USNATO will report the results. DAALDER