US embassy cable - 04MADRID839

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000839 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, SP, NATO 
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 50477 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, 
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) Polmiloff delivered reftel demarche March 10 to 
Manuel Acerete, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy 
Director General for International Security Affairs.  Acerete 
confirmed Spain would attend SHAPE's March 11 Force 
Generation Conference.   He explained that due to its 
commitments in Iraq and the Balkans, Spain would have a 
difficult time committing more than the current 130 or so 
Spanish troops in Afghanistan for ISAF expansion.  That said, 
Spain agrees that no one can afford a NATO failure in 
Afghanistan and will look at all options to determine if it 
is be possible to contribute to ISAF expansion and the 
deployment of new Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). 
 
2.  (C) Acerete also noted that Spain is one of the five 
countries that make up Eurocorps, which has offered to 
provide the headquarters element for ISAF for six months 
beginning in August.  Spain would expand its participation in 
ISAF via Eurocorps if an agreement is reached for Eurocorps 
to participate.  We suggested that if Eurocorps does handle 
the headquarters element it would be more appropriate for it 
to do so for 12 months rather than just six months.  Acerete 
said Spain was considering this option but pointed out that 
prior contingents have lead headquarters for only six months. 
 
3.  (C) Acerete emphasized that Spain understands the 
critical importance of expanding ISAF and will do all it can 
to assist ISAF in accomplishing its mission. 
 
ARGYROS