US embassy cable - 05MANAMA427

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/TRA/OTP DHAYWOOD 
STATE FOR OES CDIAMOND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2015 
TAGS: EWWT, ECON, ETRD, KSTC, PTER, ASEC, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION AND OUTREACH 
ON MARITIME SECURITY 
 
REF: STATE 38874 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Per reftel, Embassy's Pol/Econ office, Regional 
Security Office (RSO), Office of Military Cooperation (OMC), 
and Naval Central Command (NAVCENT) consulted on the 
coordination of maritime security efforts.  The RSO is in 
direct contact with the Bahrain Coast Guard (BCG) and 
OMC/NAVCENT liaise with the Royal Bahrain Navy (RBN).  The 
presence of the Naval Fifth Fleet in Bahrain requires close 
coordination between the USG and the GOB on issues of 
maritime security.  While RSO is the primary contact for the 
maritime security portfolio, both OMC and RSO work closely 
with NAVCENT to ensure coordination with the Bahrainis. 
Recently, NAVCENT hosted staff talks to discuss maritime 
security with the BCG and the RBN.  Representatives from RSO 
and OMC attended the meetings as well. 
 
2.  (C) RSO uses the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATA) 
to provide training to the BCG.  RSO is in contact with U.S. 
Coast Guard (USCG) regarding the visit of an assessment team 
to identify possible areas for USCG assistance to the BCG. 
The Minister of Interior has made clear to the Embassy that 
he puts high priority on strengthening the BCG as an 
important component in his country's efforts to safeguard its 
borders from terrorist threats.  He is hopeful that the MOI 
can receive USG assistance in this effort. 
 
3.  (C) The BCG has requested radar operational training and 
radar assistance.  NAVCENT will provide a secure telephone 
and fax at BCG headquarters for instant secure communication 
between NAVCENT, the Embassy and the BCG.  The BCG is also 
planning to provide a part-time liaison officer at NAVCENT in 
order to increase information flows between the two entities 
and will look into providing one individual to ride with U.S. 
Fifth Fleet ships in the future.  The BCG provides security 
patrols of the port where the Fifth Fleet is anchored. 
 
4.  (C) Overall, the coordination between the host country, 
NAVCENT and the Embassy is very good and improving daily. 
One possible gap in maritime security efforts is the lack of 
monitoring of dhows from countries throughout the Gulf. 
 
 
MONROE