US embassy cable - 04MADRID3118

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003118 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, PM/RSAT, EAP/RSA 
OSD FOR STRATEGY, EUR 
JCS FOR STRATEGY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2014 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, KPAO, SP, NATO, Defense and Political 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: FURTHER REACTION TO GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE 
DEMARCHE 
 
REF: A. STATE 174698 
 
     B. MADRID 3103 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert J. Riley, 
reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Following up on ref A demarche and ref B reporting 
cable concerning U.S. Global Defense Posture Review (GDPR), 
we delivered the demarche August 15 to General Felix Sanz, 
the Spanish Armed Forces' Chief of Defense, and Admiral 
Francisco Torrente, Secretary General for Defense Policy at 
the Ministry of Defense (undersecretary for policy 
equivalent).  Both defense officials received the demarche 
very well.  Sanz said he appreciated the update and the 
advance notice of President Bush's speech.  Spain 
understands, said Sanz, that the U.S. has the freedom and the 
right to revamp the placement of its forces as it sees fit. 
The only thing Spain requests is advance notice of any impact 
the changes will have on Spain. 
 
2.  (C) Torrente also welcomed the demarche, saying Spain has 
been and will remain a loyal ally of the United States. 
Spain appreciates the open dialogue it has had with the U.S. 
on GDPR.  The U.S., Torrente said, could count on very good 
cooperation from Spain on GDPR, just as Spain has cooperated 
closely with the U.S. on defense matters for the last 50 
years. 
 
3.  (C) Comment:  Both defense officials appreciated the 
advance notice of the President's speech and the GDPR update. 
 To the extent the evolving GDPR impacts Spain and 
particularly the U.S. presence at Rota Naval Air Station and 
Moron Air Base, the earlier we can communicate the relevant 
details to the Spanish, the better. 
 
MANZANARES