U.S.-PORTUGAL SECURITY DIALOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000053 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM JOHN BOYARSKI, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PO SUBJECT: U.S.-PORTUGAL SECURITY DIALOGUE REF: 09 STATE 112900 Classified By: Poleconoff Mario Fernandez, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This message responds to reftel. Answers are keyed to para 3 of reftel. ¶2. (U) Question A: Does the U.S. currently have an established security dialogue with your country? Answer: The U.S. and Portugal engage in formal discussions that cover the entire bilateral relationship, including security issues, twice a year. ¶3. (U) Question B: When was the dialogue or mechanism first established? By what means was it established? Is the frequency of such meetings controlled through a binding agreement, or is this dialogue regulated by an informal understanding? Answer: The parties signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Defense (ACD) in 1995, an agreement that is binding on both parties. The ACD established a Bilateral Commission that meets twice yearly -- alternating between Lisbon and Washington, D.C. -- to review bilateral relations regarding political, military, and diplomatic issues. The Commission allows subject matter experts to accompany the delegations to coordinate policies on issues of mutual interest. ¶4. (U) Question C: When did the group last meet? Does the USG or host government have a set schedule or any general expectations regarding the frequency of this exchange? When is the next scheduled meeting? Answer: The Bilateral Commission last met January 19, 2010, in Washington, D.C. As provided by the ACD, the parties expect to meet again in approximately six months after the last meeting. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed us that they are considering May 2010 for the next Bilateral Commission meeting. ¶5. (U) Question D: Does the USG or host government hold any expectations as to the level of leadership hosting the exchange? Answer: When the meeting is held in Washington D.C., the EUR Assistant Secretary acts as host, while the Portuguese delegation is headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Director -- the equivalent of the State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs. When in Lisbon, the meeting is hosted by the MFA's Political Director. The U.S. delegation, however, is headed by the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal. ¶6. (SBU) Question E: PM would also be interested in Post's brief, honest assessment regarding the overall utility of the dialogue. Are new issues frequently broached, or has the dialogue devolved into a stagnant exchange of power point slides? If necessary, please use classified communication to convey this honest assessment. Answer: While the semi-annual Bilateral Commission meeting has at times been too formalized and scripted to afford an opportunity for meaningful dialogue, it has still been effective in focusing the parties to deliver on commitments made throughout the year. In addition, both parties are exploring ways to make the meeting more broad in scope. At the last meeting in January, for example, the parties expanded dialogue to include issues not traditionally handled during the Bilateral Commission meeting, including justice and home affairs issues. ¶7. (U) The Bilateral Commission Meeting discussed at paras 2-6 has several subcommittees under it, two of which hold independent meetings to propose, discuss, and approve new initiatives and review old ones. -- Technical Committee: The Technical Committee holds independent semiannual meetings to discuss infrastructure issues directly related to the Lajes Airbase operations in the Azores. The last meeting was held October 22-23, 2009, and the next one is planned for late February 2010. This subcommittee is led by Embassy Lisbon's ODC Chief; the Portuguese delegation is lead by an official from the Armaments Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. -- Azorean Cooperation Initiative Program (ACIP): ACIP is a LISBON 00000053 002 OF 002 cooperative initiative to manage DOD-funded projects in the Azores. The subcommittee meets semiannually or as needed, independent of the Bilateral Commission Meeting. The last meeting was held May, 2009, while the next one will take place in summer 2010. This subcommittee is led by an Embassy Lisbon officer, while the Portuguese delegation is lead by an official from the Regional Government of the Azores. ¶8. (U) In addition to the Bilateral Commission Meeting, the two countries engage in other formalized dialogue as follows: -- Joint Staff Talks: biennial, last held January 2008, Lisbon; planning next for Spring 2010 in Washington, D.C. -- Foreign Military Sales (FMS): Country Management Review Conference; annual, facilitated by the Army Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) with USASAC (US Army Security Assistance Command),relevant U.S. Army program offices (U.S. Army Material Command and subordinate commands),and contractors; with Portuguese Army program heads. Purpose is to review progress in FMS business and to discuss future activity, including upcoming Portuguese FMS procurement needs. This conference is held by binding agreement with a set schedule. Last meeting was held September 2009. ¶9. (C) An additional formalized venue for discussing mil-mil issues is the Intelligence Sharing Agreement Exchange, a binding agreement that calls for an annual meeting. The event was last held in Lisbon in June 2009. The next meeting is planned for Washington D.C. in 2010. ¶10. (U) The parties also participate in other mil-mil ad hoc events, including: -- AFRICOM - Portuguese MOD/Armed Forces Staff Talks, planning for May 2010. Topics: Maritime security and capacity building; Regional engagement, including through Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP); and Africa Center for Strategic Studies Senior Leader Seminar. (Note: USAFRICOM Commander, General Ward, officially extended a formal invitation to Portuguese Chief of Defense on November 10, 2009, to establish a permanent LNO position.) -- Portuguese Navy Staff Talks with Commander, US Naval Forces Africa Scheduled to take place in Naples, Italy in March 2010 (Heads of both delegations are Rear Admirals). -- Conference of European Armies (CEA); annual; last held September 23-25, 2009. General Jose Luis Pinto Ramalho, PRT Army Chief attended. One on one discussion with CSA and CDR, USAEUR. The 18th Annual CEA is scheduled to take place October 13-15, 2010, in Sibiu, Romania; ARMA will accompany PRT CSA. -- International Sea Power Symposium; annual, last held Fall 2009, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Melo Gomes, attended. Newport RI. -- Global Air Chiefs Conference; annual, last attended by PRT Air force Chief, General Araujo, in Spring 2008. -- US Naval Forces Africa Conference; January 2010, one Portuguese Lieutenant Commander participated in a US Naval Forces Africa sponsored Conference to synchronize engagement efforts in Africa with European partners. -- US Navy Sponsored African Partnership Station; Spring 2009, 3 Portuguese Officers participated in the US Navy Sponsored African Partnership Station deployment to West Africa. (3 Portuguese Officers were scheduled to embark in the 2010 African Partnership Station before its deployment was postponed due to Haiti relief efforts). For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal BALLARD