COUNTER-PIRACY WORKING GROUP CHAIR CALLS FOR NATO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000525 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019 TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MOPS MARR MCAP EWWT PBTS PHSA SO, XA SUBJECT: COUNTER-PIRACY WORKING GROUP CHAIR CALLS FOR NATO LEADERSHIP ON CAPACITY-BUILDING Classified By: Political Advisor Kelly Degnan. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: On November 9, the Chairman of Working Group One (WG1) of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, Chris Holtby (UK),briefed the NATO Policy Coordination Group (PCG) on regional capacity-building and urged NATO to play a role in training. NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ambassador Rossin, said NATO should make concrete offers by the WG1 meeting in mid-January. USNATO believes that we will be best served by defining what contribution the U.S. is willing to make--a U.S. Coast Guard role would be welcome--and then building support for a NATO effort in line with Amb. Rossin's timing. Furthermore, we should consider whether there are additional NATO partnership tools which could be opened. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) WG1 Chairman Holtby stressed to the NATO Policy Coordination Group (PCG) the need for a coordinated, collective effort on regional capacity building. Holtby called on NATO to show leadership by playing a role in training, including embarkation of ship-riders from nations like Kenya. He said it would be very helpful if NATO representatives from both the International Staff and Allies at the WG1 meeting on November 16-17 could be positive and supportive, if possible to include offering participation in specific projects. ¶3. (C) NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations Ambassador Larry Rossin endorsed Holtby's comments. He said that as NATO's representative to the upcoming WG1 meeting, he intended to be positive and supportive and reminded Allies that their Heads of State had endorsed this mission at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit. Amb. Rossin said his aim was for NATO to be able to make concrete offers by the WG1 meeting in mid-January. ¶4. (C) Commander Craig Bennett from Joint Command Lisbon briefed that areas of significant interest for NATO included the Kenya Center for Excellence, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers, the Djibouti Training Center, and AFRICOM's African Partnership Station (APS). In response to a German query, he highlighted the possibility for Allied coast guards to play a role in capacity building. He stressed maritime professionalization, situational awareness, interdiction, and infrastructure development as potential areas for a NATO contribution. (Note: Donna Hopkins from State PM Bureau's Office of Plans, Policy, and Analysis also gave a well received briefing on the Maritime Security Sector Reform (MSSR) Assessment Matrix. End Note.) ¶5. (C) Comment: USNATO recommends using the upcoming visit to Brussels of the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant to share ideas and look for ways to build support for a NATO maritime capacity building and training role. End Comment. USNATO 00000525 002 OF 002 DAALDER