SCENESETTER FOR COMMANDER, U.S. EUCOM'S Visit to

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000558 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION COMMANDER, U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND FROM DATT DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MOPS MARR NATO HR DEFENSE REFORM SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR COMMANDER, U.S. EUCOM'S Visit to Croatia Classified By: COL Brendan McAloon, DATT/ARMA, for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Sir, your visit to Exercise JACKAL STONE 09 comes at a time when the excellent security relationship between Croatia and the United States continues to grow stronger. Croatia appreciated the United States being one of earliest countries to ratify Croatia's NATO accession protocol and the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF) see the U.S. in general and U.S. EUCOM in particular as friends and allies with no hidden agendas. You will have the opportunity to meet the Chief of the General Staff, GEN Josip Lucic (Lootz-itch). Lucic was unexpectedly reappointed for an unprecedented second five-year term as CHOD in January 2008. Lucic is President Mesic's closest military advisor and thus may not last in his position much longer after Mesic's second term ends in February of ¶2010. Although he participated in three months of language training in the United States, his ability to speak English remains rudimentary. Your visit will also give you a chance to meet the new U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, James Foley, during his first few weeks on station. ¶2. (C) OMLTs/ISAF. Prior to joining NATO in April, Croatia had the only self-funded, non-NATO OMLT in Afghanistan as part of its almost 300 troops in ISAF. Croatia has since deployed two more OMLTs: one garrison OMLT and one Combined Combat Support OMLT with their state partner, the Minnesota National Guard (NGMN). The OMLTs are deployed with the 209th ANA Corps and are based in Mazar-e Sharif (MeS). Croatia paid all expenses for the initial OMLT with the exception of U.S.-provided stratlift. They have no operational limitations on deployment or ROE, but do have two caveats: no CT and no Counter-narcotics operations. The combined NGMN-CRO Combat Support OMLT has not been smooth sailing. Planning and equipment shortfalls exacerbated by poor team-building made its initial entry into theater difficult. We have conducted an extensive lessons learned process and have submitted a 1206 proposal for training equipment support to improve the quality of this OMLT's efforts and ensure that future combined OMLTs are better prepared for deployment. The NGMN is addressing the training equipment shortfalls in the near-term. The deployment with U.S. Soldiers is a point of pride for the Croatian Army. The Minister of Defense has announced the intention to deploy two additional Police OMLTs in 2010, raising Croatia's ISAF contribution to 330. Currently their contingent is dispersed in four locations throughout RC-N, RC-W, and RC-Capital. Croatia has expressed a desire to consolidate its forces to facilitate logistical support. There is also a U.K. proposal at SHAPE for Croatia to take the ISAF Headquarters security mission. Without an additional increase in the ISAF contingent, the HQ security mission would require a decrease in Croatia's commitment of 131 soldiers securing the German base in MeS. The CAF is attracted to the ISAF HQ security mission and Lucic may ask you your thoughts on this proposal. ¶4. (C/NF) KFOR/Croatian Air Force: The Croatian Air Force deployed two new MI-171Sh lift helicopters and 20 airmen to Camp Bondsteel in July 2009. This was the first deployment outside of Croatia for the Air Force. Croatia sees this as a test run deployment for the Air Force and has not closed the door on deployment of helicopters in support of ISAF in the future. Additionally, SOCEUR has expressed keen interest in working with the Croatian Air Force to develop partnership capacity to support SOF operations. We have recently submitted a 1206 proposal for funding this program. ¶5. (SBU) Peacekeeping: Croatia prides itself on its transition from a security consumer with UN Peacekeepers on its territory as recently as 1998 to a security provider with CAF elements involved in numerous UN peacekeeping operations around the globe, to include 98 CAF personnel on the UN mission in the Golan Heights and 15 of its Special Forces soldiers to the UN mission in Chad. With these deployments Croatia is in the process of implementing its plans to increase and sustain its PKO contributions from 250 soldiers in 2007 to 600 soldiers in 2010. ¶6. (C) ASPA: The U.S. FMF and IMET programs were suspended in July 2003 due to American Serviceman Protection Act (ASPA) sanctions. As a result, the CAF depended entirely upon national resources to accomplish its NATO partnership goals and to equip its forces for ISAF. Croatia is the only ISAF partner and new NATO member that accomplished its transformation and financed its ISAF commitments without FMF or Coalition Support Funding. The suspension of IMET has had a telling impact throughout the CAF that we still see today. Most notable is the lack of U.S.-educated staff officers at the senior and mid-grade officer level to fill critical billets on the MOD, CAF, and NATO Staffs. ¶7. (SBU) FMF/IMET levels. Croatia did not receive any FMF in FY08, and only one million dollars in FMF and 500K in IMET in 2009. We recently received the good news that an additional 110k of end of year IMET will be added to this year's numbers after approval. The proposed budget numbers trend better in FYs 10 and 11, but still far short of what is needed to properly train and equip Croatia for its ISAF mission. ¶8. (C) Procurement Priorities. The financial crisis has forced two budget cuts already with another expected soon. While there was initially enough fat to cut without too much pain, the latest budget cuts have started to impact longstanding procurement cases. The contract for the new Patria Armored Personnel Carrier will be changed to lengthen the delivery and payment timelines. The contract for ten new coastal patrol vessels for the Navy will be adjusted so that four will be delivered and then the need for the other six will be reevaluated. Replacement for the aging MiG-21 fighters remains on the agenda, though the high price has delayed the decision. U.S. FMF funding will be directed at obtaining the necessary NATO-compatible JTAC equipment, radios, night vision devices, weapon sights, and GPS required to sustain Croatia's forces in ISAF. USAREUR assisted Croatia by leasing two HMMWVs for use in pre- deployment drivers training. We provided through no-cost lease 30 up-armored HMMWVs in ISAF to make the deployed Croatian soldiers more survivable and have encouraged Croatia to request an additional 30 up-armored HMMWV's. FOLEY