US embassy cable - 05SANAA1688

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001688 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PARM, MASS, MCAP, YM, MARITIME SECURITY 
SUBJECT: VADM NICHOLS MEETS WITH ROYG DEFENSE, INTERIOR 
MINSTER, YCG COMMANDER 
 
REF: SANAA 1377 
 
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Visiting U.S. NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral 
Nichols met with the Ministers of Defense and Interior and 
the Commander of the Yemen Coast Guard (YCG) on June 12, 
2005.  All three ROYG officials expressed their gratitude to 
the USG for its assistance in establishing and training the 
YCG, saying that even in its infant stage the force is having 
a positive impact on coastal security.  VADM Nichols assured 
his ROYG interlocutors that the USG would continue to support 
Yemen's efforts to build its maritime security capabilities. 
 
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Yemen is Poor, Yemen Needs More 
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2. (C) Minister of Defense Alaiwa delivered his standard 
message to senior USG military and civilian officials:  Yemen 
is poor and underdeveloped; fighting the GWOT is our first 
priority, but it has exhausted our treasury; therefore, we 
need much more USG assistance.  "Yemen is a stage for 
al-Qaida and other (re: al-Houthi) terrorists," Alaiwa told 
VADM. We appreciate U.S. assistance to the YGC, continued the 
DM, but Yemen does not have a real navy, and no money to buy 
parts or build ports. 
 
 
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Smuggling of Weapons, Drugs, and People 
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2. (C) VADM Nichols explained NAVCENT'S maritime security 
mission in separate meetings to the Ministers of Defense and 
Interior.  A coalition force made up of the U.S., U.K., 
Germany, France, and Pakistan has two objectives: to prevent 
terrorists from using the sea as a venue for attacks against 
ships and oil infrastructure at sea; and, to prevent 
terrorist from using the sea to move operatives and equipment 
to conduct attacks on shore.  A major issue in this AOR is 
smuggling of weapons, drugs and people, continued VADM. 
NAVCENT combats smugglers by pressurizing their routes. 
"While smugglers may not be directly connected to terrorism," 
said VADM, "terrorists are their customers." 
 
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Return of U.S. Navy to Aden Port? 
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3. (C) VADM Nichols pointed out to the Interior and Defense 
Ministers how well NAVCENT's maritime security operations and 
priorities coincided with Yemen's security interests, 
suggesting that Yemen and the YCG could benefit from 
participating more routinely in joint monitoring and 
interdiction exercises and missions.  "It need not be 
anything complicated," said VADM, "your officers are always 
welcome on our ships."  Defense Minister Alaiwa asked when he 
would see a U.S. Navy vessel return to Aden Port.  VADM 
Nichols responded that he is working on a U.S. Naval visit 
"in the not too distant future," and that the best scenario 
would for the first U.S. port visit to Aden since the 2000 
USS Cole attack would be as part of a joint U.S.-Yemen 
maritime activity or exercise. 
 
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Coast Guard Making A Difference 
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4. (C) Both Alaiwa and Alimi expressed their gratitude to 
VADM Nichols for U.S. assistance to the Yemen Coast Guard, 
noting that the force is already having a positive effect on 
combating smuggling and increasing coastal security.  "We 
hope our cooperation with the U.S. in developing a coast 
guard will lead to an end to illegal immigration," commented 
Alimi, "as this is a major economic and security problem for 
Yemen."  Alaiwa, as usual, did not miss an opportunity to 
push for greater U.S. involvement in Somalia, complaining 
that Somali refugees in particular were a major drain on ROYG 
resources. 
 
5. (C) Yemen Coast Guard Commander General Ali Rasa told VADM 
that the YCG was now ready to move into territorial waters, 
but needed 25-30 meter boats to supplement YCG classroom work 
with practical training.  He also requested USG help in 
surveying Bir Ali Island to determine a location for a coast 
guard station, implying that the YCG has given up on plans to 
build at Safir Port (ref A.) 
Krajeski