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courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10USNATO84, USD(P) FLOURNOY'S FEBRUARY 17 MEETING WITH NATO
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10USNATO84 | 2010-02-24 17:43 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Mission USNATO |
VZCZCXRO2348
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DE RUEHNO #0084/01 0551743
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000084
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: MARR MCAP NATO PARM PREL
SUBJECT: USD(P) FLOURNOY'S FEBRUARY 17 MEETING WITH NATO
SYG RASMUSSEN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires John Heffern for reasons 1.4(b),(d)
¶1. (C) Summary. Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) Michele
Flournoy discussed NATO reform, nuclear posture, NATO's
Strategic Concept, Missile Defense, Afghanistan and export
controls with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen in a February
17 meeting that followed USD(P) Flournoy's briefing to the
NAC on the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). End summary.
REFORM TO STAY RELEVANT
--------------------------
¶2. (C) Secretary General Rasmussen stressed to U/S Flournoy
that his main ambition is to reform NATO in a way that
strengthens the Alliance's flexibility and vitality. He
shared Secretary Gates' passion for reform, he said, and
agreed that reform is essential to enable Allies to spend
NATO resources wisely. Defense Ministers' tasking at the
February 4-5 Istanbul ministerial gave him a solid political
platform for presenting far-reaching reform proposals,
including on NATO command structure. Rasmussen said he
planned to ask NATO military authorities to lay out their
ideal command structure, which he would then present to
Defense Ministers in June for discussion, not decisions.
¶3. (C) Civilian headquarters reform proposals, including
extensive committee reform, are also under consideration,
Rasmussen said. His staff had abolished over 80 dormant
committees since he took office and hoped to whittle down the
remaining 300 committees to 100. Reform would be tough -- he
had already met with resistance from several countries,
including "some parts of the USG." Strong support from the
US would be essential for reform efforts to succeed, he
emphasized. Flournoy cautioned that focusing too heavily on
command structure reforms first might exhaust the political
capital needed for reforms essential to bolstering NATO
capabilities; starting with less contentious issues might
produce more results, more quickly. EUR PDAS Nancy
McEldowney added that Foreign Ministers need to be engaged on
reform proposals as well.
¶4. (C) Resource reform would also be instrumental in
strengthening NATO, Rasmussen said, adding the NAC must move
ahead firmly to implement the Defense Ministers' decision at
Istanbul. He intends for Allies to make clear resource
decisions in March and report back to Defense Ministers, who
approved a four-point package at Istanbul. Some costs would
have to be pushed over to 2011, and NATO would improve
efficiencies where possible. But Rasmussen made clear that
the Alliance remains underfinanced; he applauded a Defense
Ministers' agreement to infuse new funds.
NPR IN THE NATO CONTEXT
-----------------------
¶5. (C) Rasmussen also raised the Nuclear Posture Review
(NPR), noting this would be an important topic in the
Strategic Concept process and one likely to generate heated
debate. Flournoy cited the President's 2009 Prague speech as
the framework for US nuclear weapons policy, with a focus on
preventing proliferation and terrorism. She noted that the
US is taking steps to reduce the role of and reliance on
nuclear weapons, as well as their numbers, but added that the
President recognizes nuclear weapons will continue to play a
role in the near to mid-term. Given that reality, the US
also needs to invest in the nuclear infrastructure to ensure
a safe and effective nuclear arsenal, she said.
¶6. (C) On non-strategic nuclear forces (NSNF), Flournoy
stressed the US intends to stay in step with NATO and to work
within an Alliance context; the indivisibility of the
Alliance would remain at the forefront in deciding on a way
forward. The NPR, expected to be completed by March 1, would
not get ahead of the Alliance or Strategic Concept process on
NSNF in Europe. She also noted that several Allies' current
aircraft procurement plans appear headed toward de facto
divestment, as they do not include Dual Capable Aircraft
variants; NATO would need to consider national investment
programs in making decisions on the Alliance's approach.
Rasmussen suggested that the US may end up playing the honest
broker between the two extremes in Europe, with Germany on
one side and France on the other.
STRATEGIC CONCEPT PROCESS
--------------------------
¶7. (C) Rasmussen intends to strike the right balance in
drafting NATO's Strategic Concept between the "one pen
USNATO 00000084 002 OF 002
principle" to ensure coherency and buy-in from other
stakeholders. In keeping with the Strausbourg-Kehl tasking
that the process include consultations, he and PermReps would
discuss the Group of Expert report at an "away day" in May
that would be followed by three or four Ambassador-level
discussions on selected topics over the summer. In
September, Rasmussen would embark on the final drafting
process. He expects to call a Defense Ministerial in
September and Foreign Ministerial in October to give
guidance. While the Strategic Concept would be relatively
short, Rasmussen said a more comprehensive implementation
document might be necessary to translate the principles in
the text into clear policies, actions and operations.
MISSILE DEFENSE GOALS
---------------------
¶8. (C) Flournoy reaffirmed that the US wants the Alliance to
adopt territorial missile defense as a NATO mission at the
November Lisbon Summit. Approval of funding for the MD
options paper is a positive step forward in making missile
defense a NATO project, which is essential for countries such
as Turkey. The US views NATO's continued investment in
ALTBMD and endorsement of territorial defense as a NATO
mission as key Lisbon Summit outcomes. Rasmussen
acknowledged achieving these goals would require extensive
engagement, noting that some Allies would use the financial
costs and Russia's response to missile defense to resist
supporting a NATO initiative. It would be important to keep
the offer of cooperation with Russia on the table. Flournoy
said upcoming ministerials would provide opportunities to
reassure Allies, address their concerns and clarify what the
MD mission will require. McEldowney noted it would be
particularly useful for Foreign Ministers to discuss missile
defense at the April Tallinn meeting because they have not
yet had a substantive exchange on the issue.
MORE TRAINERS
-------------
¶9. (C) Flournoy thanked Rasmussen for his efforts to generate
ISAF contributions. Despite a positive response to meet
troop requirements, critical shortfalls in trainers remain
that will have a direct impact on ISAF's ability to grow the
Afghan security forces. Rasmussen agreed to ramp up his
efforts, which include sending letters to NATO/ISAF Defense
Ministers and calls to key Ministers. Using a SHAPE
assessment of contributions for each Partner and Ally, he had
focused on the top ten potential contributors with calls and
meetings. Allies stepped up to meet force needs in December;
Rasmussen was optimistic about filling current needs, once
clearly identified, as well.
EXPORT CONTROL REVIEW
---------------------
¶10. (C) Rasmussen concluded the meeting by noting an upcoming
review of US export control laws. He urged the US to
consider a regime that promotes rather than impedes
cooperation. Two new European Union directives on technology
transfer and cooperation might offer an opportunity to
harmonize the US and EU approaches. Flournoy said Secretary
Gates is very engaged on the issue, viewing it as both a
national security and an competitiveness issue. The review is
an opportunity to define more carefully the unique
technologies that deserve protection, improve controls on
those and adjust restrictions on others, many of which are
available on the open market. This approach would enhance US
competitiveness and improve Allied cooperation on defense
capabilities.
¶11. (U) USD(P) Flournoy has cleared on this cable.
HEFFERN