U. S. SECURITY INTERESTS IN AZORES -- NSSM 221 RESPONSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 23, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25 : LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
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SE:C.it.14..ARY K.:1561 'A.
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.Mcurty interests in
2469X
Jtift4i 23, 1975
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beton*. anti CIA have forwarded a good review of U. S
cuatty
*Lu the Asoires. The 'tatty ,stabklielses that, a f&ct, Lkere err
no goad alternative location* for the ASV, aircraft sta and radio
intercept missions performed at stair Azores facilities.
espooee
As there is a cone sus among the agencies, ther le no need for further
int erdepartmental work at present. rho study should be alaiserat Et ed
ap.to-datit for contingency use. The memorandum for your 'signature to
tbc ?resident akt nal would forward the .tdy for his information.
Clint (,* twist:IT concurs.
L NW& TION
That you sign the menaoratilluni for the President at fa A .
GFlynn:nw:6/23/75
r0.41:.. Ec.1127:IL
NSS, NAVY,
OSD, NSA
review(s)
completed.
MORI/CDF C05296749
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25: LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25 : LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
? 77: u-
ANDU PRE 1.01,,NT
Henry A. if,iseinger
becurity Interests in the Azores
SUBJECT:
Z46
In reeponse to PM 2I, The Departmeets of State an4 Lfesse snd the
CL4 have prepared a review of U.S. security interest* in the Asores at
tab I), with emphasis on:
The milli:kat *tad military significance of U. t4,. loose rights sad
facUlti.es in the Astarte;
b. policy and options, under the range of possible conditions
extending from comitinsation of the statussito to complete U. withdrawal;
and,
to other I
therein.
ve arrangement* for transfer a *sweetie! .Asores operations
s. includisg the political and military coursiderations Involved
The participating agencies have also submitted formal comm at and
recommendation* on the liSSM response (Tab 111. Where there are differences
among the -agencies, they are differences of emphasis rather than substance
with Defense taking an even more emphatic position on the importance of the
Asores this VMS expressed in the NSM response.
of la*i
the NATO nrrssrictnr.4s*4*d naval, itsel stage facility lac
Delgade on ban Lysol Lotted, pin* two Portuguese-operated LORAN air
navigation efts* on the islands of floras and Setts Maria. U. S. forces aro
in the Azores under a de !mit continuation of the present bases agreement
with Portugal which expired is February 1974. no Portuguese are expected
to call for formai negotiation* on the Asoires bases agreement late this year.
Za public statements, the Portuguese Prime Minister has stated that continued
U. S. use of the "sores will be in the NA TO coldest and that operations such
'''':CAD:1719(1434PYI?1PCD,.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25: LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
25X1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25 : LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
aa the ai
the inter*. Meta
aeli c?nft&ct will et be p.r*tted in
*Main firmly ender Lasbon's control.
tiecent moves fonLsdsp.ad.nce lay Agorae* **petals& *roil** have beers
poorly orgaalami and have net hail support from either the cvlfla.n parolee
or military *atria.* in the /mares.
the NSS34 respossesuxesisrAllt ziRetted ia_exessy and
,teconarnesulatioes_mresses a coosensus that IKOW toroteeesiii
fasts, the Azores remota an atsantial an_clitrirdece r overS+44011
basing "tractors for nil uterine wer 2) aircraft
eititing_aani_ea roots so
I. Mg:1AL A The principal ASW forces employed from
the Aaores are long is patrol aircraft (P-3,$) capable of detecting,
treatise and, if eseceseary eidimarines. rho amity states that V. S.
leen/tie* in the Azores in support of ASW operations are of critkal Importance
to our ebility to deal with the Soviet submarine threat in the centre' Atlantic ?
ballistic missile sidsmarities in the aria of the mid-Atlantic ridge as well as
attack sebsuariees along the major mid-Attsatic convoy routes between North
America and Tintype which are essential for the reinforcement at NATO in time
of war. The possible alternatives for the P-3 ASW operations -- Rota, the Cape
Verdes or the Spanish Canaries allprose* political problem*, and none would
cisme the ASW coverage sap remitting froze an Azores shutdown. polkas* 444.
the* ist the 11.,,,__Ptiess. Aber* areAssialennate erAILA...0 TikAte
elternsitivee nasiAti_zne_jrciraft essirAt?akom
it.Aircraft Ste i anicassiste Setplart. !be stuffy implies that the Azores
are more of a COVIVaninna. Masi a necessity is. supporting trasse-.Ailastic aircraft
operations tinder a variety of conditimis ? geseral war, coetingency operations,
sod peacetime recogniziag that substitutes for the Azores east, ha not
without considerable cost, dislocation, and mission degradation.
Lajee is one of eeveral ferward bases which are desired to "oppose aircraft
movements to Enropec the Middle and tilorth Africa. During period, of
istense *it activity, seek es the first 30 slays following lia-day, suatipie stagieg
bases would be needed to sappers the plumed level of operatiosse. Other bases
planned for employment in mapport of the augmentation of Europe inclode GOO.*
Bey? Xeflavik? and Terrelua. Diversion to Genie Bay and/or Keflavik of
missions eurreatly pleased through LAjea is possible, but some augmentation
of /*cattle* woad b. respire& The greater likelihood of adverse weather
condition' on the northern route makes total reflexes on these biasses **desirable.
117,CR FT/SIFNSITIV EIXG.DS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25: LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
25X1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25 : LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
0 4111P
Bases in tipain, jori. Zaragosa, on,iota, eould be lased in
lieu of Lajes for many *missions, but some miseions would require additional.
tanker support. Other aircraft, however, moot deploy over the northern rout
due to range limitations and an inability to refuel in the air. Increased reliance
on tanker aircraft would Etat be desirable, duo to ;nany competing demand* for
this scarce resource.
part from the L. i. ba s in Opain, the most likely alternative airfield, to
Lajes for support of contingency operations ba the Middle F'aat or North Africa
lie in mainland Portugal, the iktiadelors Islands, the Canary .;slands, Morocco,
and S >Riegel. None of these, however, could desplicate the capabilities of LAO*
or the Spanish bas** with** extensive augmentation and/or base development.
Also, tote of airfields in the Canary islands and Smaegal would be valuable only if
*veali ht of several sith.Saharan AfIricari countries were also assured.
that_tite ativ o the Aaore* exist but the saitablity
avallsztaility, sloth alternativef,ars cloudeel,,kr and_testsnolciAlcal
cce!litrt1141, leittsd the A.IQT*,.11,hakee 'wee* 1.:**41011 lel!!ertto
stail_could came sykitific_ant tkeereasn corront
25X1
udy agrees that NA T fuel storage and kib N cornmand and control
$ now supported from the AMOS' es cant** relocated elsewhere without
any adverse impact on military capability.
41,4:p.D.4
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25: LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25 : LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8
? IR
NSI '
The study providesa good raponia to th. it should serve
as a useful ',durance docunnont ti diUzg with costing altuations relating
to the Amor**. W. *111 usaistain tb. study in as up-to-data status for contingency
use should clor lopmdists in Portugal and the Amor** so require.
This inernorandurn is forwardo4 for your information% so action Is r.quir.dou
your part at this Una*,
un6/43/75
kTiv
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/25: LOC-HAK-456-1-6-8