DISCUSSION IN ALLIED CAPITALS ON IMPROVED USE OF DEFENSE RESOURCES- PARIS VIEWS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000700130037-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2012
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: February 26, 1988
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/07: CIA-RDP90M00005R000700130037-6
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-1;17171t-Er? PARIS 07467
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: NATO, MCAP, MARR, FR
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION IN ALLIED CAPITALS ON IMPROVED
USE OF DEFENSE RESOURCES - PARIS VIEWS
REF: STATE 24062
1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY: THERE IS A POSITIVE STORY TO TELL ABOUT
FRANCE'S GROWING DEFENSE BUDGET, ITS PRO-DEFENSE
SECURITY POLICY, AND THE INCREASE IN ITS DE FACTO
DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH NATO ALLIES. WE LIST A
VARIETY OF WAYS IN WHICH THE USG CAN ENCOURAGE THE
FRENCH TO DO MORE AND BETTER (PARA 8). THE CONCEPT OF
BURDENSHARING IS NOT POLITICALLY BLESSED IN FRENCH
DEFENSE POLICY. A BURDENSHARING MISSION MAY NOT BE
THE BEST FRAMEWORK TO ENCOURAGE THE FRENCH TO INCREASE
DEFENSE COOPERATION (ALREADY ADDRESSED IN SEVERAL
CHANNELS OF OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP.) A VISIT
MIGHT IN FACT BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. FRANCE'S
RELATIONSHIP TO NATO IS A POLITICALLY SENSITIVE
SUBJECT. WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A MISSION AS WE LEAD
UP TO FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THIS SPRING, AND
SUGGEST REEVALUATING THE SUBJECT AFTER THEY OCCUR.
END SUMMARY.
A POSITIVE STORY, BUCKING THE TRENDS
3. THE STORY OF GROWING FRENCH DEFENSE EFFORTS AND
DEFENSE-MINDEDNESS CAN MAKE A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION ON
CONGRESS, PARTICULARLY IN FACE OF LESS ENCOURAGING
TRENDS ELSEWHERE IN THE ALLIANCE. THE EMBASSY
EXPERIENCED THIS AGAIN DURING THE VISIT LESS THAN TWO
WEEKS AGO OF CODEL BYRD. SENATORS BYRD, NUNN, WARNER,
PELL, BOREN SAID THEY WERE VERY FAVORABLY IMPRESSED BY
BY FRANCE'S GROWING CONTRIBUTION TO WESTERN DEFENSE.
OCA
I NCOM I NG
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4. THE FRENCH REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE WORLD'S
THIRD LEADING MILITARY POWER AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR
DEFENSE EFFORT AND CONSENSUS. AT A TIME WHEN THE U.S.
AND MANY ALLIED DEFENSE BUDGETS ARE CONTRACTING, THE
FRENCH HAVE PASSED A FIVE YEAR MILITARY PROGRAM
FRAMEWORK COMMITTED TO 4 PERCENT PER ANNUM REAL GROWTH.
5. GOING BEYOND DETERRENCE AND DEFENSE OF THE
HOMELAND, THE GOF EXPRESSES INCREASING COMMITMENT TO
HELP DEFEND WESTERN EUROPE. IN THE THIRD WORLD THEY
SHOW MORE READINESS THAN MOST ALLIES TO ACT--BASED ON
A "GLOBAL" FORCE POSTURE--IN SUPPORT OF SHARED WESTERN
INTERESTS. AN ENERGETIC (IF AT TIMES COMPETITIVE AND
STRIDENT) FRENCH SECURITY POLICY AIMS AT COMBATTING
PERCEIVED SOVIET GOALS: TO LURE THE GERMANS EASTWARD,
TO ENCOURAGE NUCLEAR ALLERGY, TO FRACTIONATE WESTERN
EUROPE, AND TO SAP WESTERN DEFENSE WILL BY A SIREN
CALL OF DISARMAMENT.
6. DESPITE THEIR STATUS OUTSIDE OF 71-1E NATO'S
INTEGRATED COMMAND STRUCTURE, THE FRENCH ARE
INCREASINGLY DEPLOYED AND ENGAGED IN WAYS WHICH, DE
FACTO, SHARE THE DEFENSE BURDEN. SOME .EXAMPLES ARE
MORE MILITARY EXERCISES WITH THE FRG; POLICY TREND
TOWARDS FORWARD DEFENSE OF GERMANY; MILITARY
ASSISTANCE/DEPLOYMENT TO HELP CHAD DEFEND ITSELF FROM
LIBYA; SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO AFRICA WHICH WE WILL NOT
REPLACE; NAVAL DEPLOYMENTS AND COORDINATION IN THE
PERSIAN GULF; AND A COMPLEMENTARY MILITARY PRESENCE IN
THE CARIBBEAN.
7. THE FRENCH ENGAGE IN A PATTERN OF DE FACTO DEFENSE '
AND SECURITY COOPERATION; SOME BILATERAL WITH THE U.S.
AND OTHER KEY ALLIES, SOME WITH THE ALLIANCE. FOR
POLITICAL REASONS THE GOF HAS CHOSEN TO KEEP MUCH OF
THIS COOPERATION CONFIDENTIAL. THIS SHROUD OF SECRECY
LIMITS THE POLITICAL (AND CONGRESSIONAL) ATTENTION TO
SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS OF FRANCE'S DEFENSE ROLE IN THE
ALLIANCE. HOWEVER, A FRENCH EVOLUTION AWAY FROM
"NATIONAL SANCTUARY" AND TOWARDS THE ALLIANCE--AWACS
PURCHASE, ARMS COOPERATION, EXERCISES, FORWARD DEFENSE
(THE FAR)--IS INCREASINGLY REPORTED IN THE PRESS AND
FAMILIARS TO CONGRESS. ENCOURAGING THIS TREND SHOULD
HELP WITH THE BURDENSHARING CHALLENGE IN CONGRESS.
SECRETSECTION 02 OF 03 PARIS 07467
E.O. 12356: DECL: OAOR
TAGS: NATO, MCAP, MARR, FR
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION IN ALLIED CAPITALS ON IMPROVED
WHAT MORE TO DO
8. SUBJECT TO THE TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND
POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS DISCUSSED BELOW IN PARAS 9-12,
WE THINK THE FRENCH COULD BE ENCOURAGED TO GO FARTHER
IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF ALLIANCE BURDENSHARING:
A. EUROPEAN PIPELINE - THE FRENCH DO NOT TAKE PART IN
THE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN PIPELINE
SYSTEM (CEPS), EVEN FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR OWN
COUNTRY. (TO REM/ND, 50 OF CEPS IS IN FRANCE.) THE
GOF SHOULD BEGIN PAYING ITS FAIR SHARE FOR THE CEPS
INFRASTRUCTURE RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
B. WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FRENCH ABOUT THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN NATO C3I. IN VIEW OF ITS IMPORTANCE
TO DEFENSE AND DETERRENCE IN EUROPE, WE CAN ENCOURAGE
SECRET
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THE FRENCH TO GO FARTHER AND FASTER IN THIS SPHERE.
C. EARLY IN THE CHIRAC ADMINISTRATION WE HAD SIGNALS
OF INTEREST (FROM MOD GIRAUD) IN RECONSIDERING THE
DEPLOYMENT OF ITS MILITARY FORCES WITH THE AIM OF
REINFORCING THE DEFENSE OF NORTHAG. THE U.S. SHOULD
EXPRESS CONTINUING INTEREST IN EXPLORING THAT ISSUE IN
DETAIL.
D. THERE ARE REPORTS FROM THE RECENT FRENCH-BRITISH
SUMMIT OF FRENCH WILLINGNESS TO HAVE U.K. TROOPS
EXERCISE USE OF FRENCH PORTS AND LOC'S. THIS SHOWS A
MORE PUBLIC OPENNESS TO INCREASED DEFENSE COOPERATION
WITH NATO PARTNERS. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THIS TREND.
E. THE FRENCH ARE PUTTING CONSIDERABLE EFFORT INTO
FORMING THE JOINT FRENCH-GERMAN BRIGADE. WE CAN
REQUEST BILATERAL, AND PERHAPS EVEN A NATO DISCUSSION
OF HOW SUCH EFFORTS CAN BEST CONTRIBUTE TO ALLIANCE
DEFENSE.
F. THE FRENCH HAVE GRADUALLY EVOLVED TOWARDS AT LEAST
A MARGINAL INVOLVEMENT IN NATO EXERCISES. FOR
EXAMPLE, NATO EXERCISES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN INTO THE
CURRICULUM OF WAR AND STAFF COLLEGES. THERE ARE
INTEROPERABILITY BENEFITS FROM BILATERAL ACTIVITIES
SUCH AS THE FRENCH-GERMAN KECKER SPATZ EXERCISE. WE
CAN ENCOURAGE MORE ACTIVE FRENCH PARTICIPATION IN NATO
EXERCISES LIKE REFORGER, WHERE THEY ARE NOW ENGAGED
WITH A MINOR ROLE.
G. THE FRENCH ARGUE STRONGLY IN GENERAL FOR U.S. -
NUCLEAR PRESENCE IN EUROPE, BUT HAVE FELT CONSTRAINED
FROM GETTING MUCH INVOLVED IN THE SPANISH BASES ISSUE
INCLUDING THE 401 TFW. IN NEXT STEPS. WE CAN SEEK
FRENCH SUPPORT FOR USE OF NATO INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO
COVER COSTS OF RELOCATING THE 401ST.
H. MORE BROADLY, THE FRENCH ARE ENGAGED IN BILATERAL
TALKS WITH SPAIN AND ITALY ON STRENGTHENING DEFENSE
TIES AND THE SOUTHERN FLANK. WE COULD REQUEST
CONSULTATIONS TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THESE EFFORTS
AND THEIR COMPLEMENTARITY TO NATO DEFENSE OBJECTIVES.
I. THE MOD UNDER GIRAUD HAS BEEN MORE OPEN TO SHARING
THREAT ASSESSMENTS (E.G., ATM). AND CAN BE ENCOURAGED
TO SHARE MORE IN THIS ARENA AND IN REQUIREMENTS FOR
WEAPONS SYSTEMS IN THE OUT YEARS. MEETING OF THE
MINDS ON THIS SUBJECT WOULD HAVE BENEFITS FOR
INTEROPERABILITY AND ARMAMENTS COOPERATION. THE U.S.
ARMY HAS BEGUN TO PROVIDE THE FRENCH WITH A VIEW OF
OUR OPERATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN, AND WE SHOULD
REQUEST RECIPROCITY.
POLITICS, CONSTRAINTS, TACTICS
9. WE APPRECIATE THE WAY IN WHICH REFTEL TOOK ACCOUNT
OF FRANCE'S PARTICULAR STATUS IN THE ALLIANCE. WE
AGREE THAT IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE TO INCLUDE THE
FRENCH IN A BURDENSHARING VISIT OUT OF NATO
HEADQUARTERS. THE FRENCH CONTINUE TO ADHERE STRICTLY
SECRETSECTION 03 OF 03 PARIS 07467
E.O. 12356: DECL: (MDR
TAGS: NATO, MCAP, MARR, FR
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION IN ALLIED CAPITALS ON IMPROVED
Cr` EP CT'
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/07: CIA-RDP90M00005R000700130037-6
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TO THE POLICY THAT THEIR DECISION MAKING IS NOT
SUBJECT TO ALLIANCE ORGANIZATIONS; BUT A FUNCTION OF
GOF ASSESSMENTS. THEY DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE OPO
OR FORCE GOAL EXERCISES. AS STATED IN THE REPORT ON
BURDENSHARING (87 PARIS 52467), "THE FRENCH FIND THE
WHOLE IDEA OF BURDENSHARING UNACCEPTABLE INSOFAR AS IT
WOULD SEEM TO POSTULATE AN A PRIORI COMMITMENT OF
FRANCE TO COORDINATE ITS DEFENSE EFFORTS WITH THE .
OTHER MEMBERS OF NATO."
10. THERE ARE POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISADVANTAGES IN
USING A USG MISS/ON UNDER THE RUBRIC OF BURDENSHARING
TO EXPLORE THE KINDS SUBJECTS WE HAVE OUTLINED IN PARA
8 ABOVE:
-- THE GOF IS UNLIKELY TO RESPOND ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO
A BURDENSHARING VISIT PER SE.
-- SPECIFIC ITEMS OF DEFENSE/SECURITY COOPERATION ARE
ALREADY DISCUSSED IN VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP INCLUDING: MIL-MIL; POL-MIL;
DOD-MOD; JCS-CEMA.
-- SUCH A VISIT COULD LEAD TO A DIALOGUE ON QUID PRO
QUOS, AND/OR FAMILIAR FRENCH THEMES ON "REFORM" OF
NATO, WHICH MAY NOT BE WELCOME TO THE U.S. SIDE.
-- THE GOF WILL LOOK AT A BURDENSHARING VISIT AS A
SIGNIFICANT AND SENSITIVE MATTER OF POLICY. ANY-U.S.
TEAM SHOULD BE FORMULATED APPRipPRIATELY AT THE POLICY
LEVEL. HOWEVER, RAISING CONCRETE ISSUES OF DEFENSE
COOPERATION WITH FRENCH POLICY-LEVEL OFFICIALS IN AN
INTERAGENCY SETTING IS NOT THE MOST PROMISING AVENUE
TO ACHIEVE RESULTS.
11. WE ALSO WANT TO FLAG CONSTRAINTS RELATED TO THE
FACT THAT FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OCCUR TWO
MONTHS FROM NOW, I.E., APRIL 24/MAY 8. THIS PERIOD IS
NOT CONDUCIVE TO DISCUSSING ISSUES OR CHANGES IN AN
AREA OF HIGH POLITICAL SENSITIVITY TO THE FRENCH.
DEPENDING ON PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS. IT IS QUITE
POSSIBLE THAT THE FRENCH WILL HAVE LEGISLATIVE
ELECTIONS LASTING EFFECTIVELY INTO THE FALL OF 1989.
12. IN SUM, WE LOOK AT THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT
SUBJECT, BUT ARE NOT PERSUADED THAT A BURDENSHARING
VISIT TO FRANCE IS THE WISEST APPROACH. IT WOULD MAKE
MORE SENSE TO REEVALUATE OUR OPTIONS FOR MAXIMIZING
FRENCH COOPERATION WITH NATO IN LIGHT OF SPRING
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS AND THE RESULTING
CHANGES IN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. RODGERS
END OF MESSAGE SECRET
SECRET
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