Cablegate: Counter-Piracy: Nato Begins Operation Ocean

VZCZCXRO5278
OO RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHNO #0353/01 2301434
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181434Z AUG 09
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3300
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0276
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0542
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO PRIORITY 0005
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 0033
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0391
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 0063
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0054
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0171
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0827
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY 0061
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT PRIORITY 0041
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0030
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0179
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0322
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0049
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0636
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0435
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0960
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHFMIUU/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USNMR BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1022
RHMFIUU/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000353

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND JUSTICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EWWT PHSA NATO MOPS MCAP SO XA
SUBJECT: COUNTER-PIRACY: NATO BEGINS OPERATION OCEAN
SHIELD: INCLUDES CAPACITY BUILDING

REF: USNATO 350

1. (U) On August 17, NATO formally commenced Operation Ocean
Shield -- the Alliance's long-term contribution to
international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of
Africa. In a statement posted to its website, the Allied
Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood (MCC
Northwood) said that "while at-sea counter-piracy operations
will continue to be the focus, a new element of
regional-state counter-piracy capacity building has been
developed for Operation Ocean Shield." The statement went on
to note that "NATO's capacity building effort will aim to
assist regional states, upon their request, in developing
their own ability to combat piracy activities."

2. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to the counter-piracy mission,
the Alliance has also recently agreed to strengthen its
relations with the African Union (AU), including increasing
NATO's support for efforts to build the AU's security
structures. As NATO engages Africa more through these
initiatives, we hope that USG players in the continent--such
as AFRICOM--will consider inviting NATO to observe or
participate in upcoming U.S.-led capacity building events,
such as exercises and planning conferences. NATO
participation in such events would give us a better insight
into how we can best leverage the Alliance's
capabilities/resources in pursuit of USG policy priorities in
Africa. END COMMENT

3. (U) The full text of the MCC Northwood statement follows:

BEGIN TEXT

17 August 09

NATO begins Operation Ocean Shield

Operation Ocean Shield, NATO's contribution to international
efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, commenced to
today after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved the
mission. Operation Ocean Shield builds on the experience
gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATO's previous
counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role
based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a
more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts.

While at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be
the focus, a new element of regional-state counter-piracy
capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean
Shield. NATO's capacity building effort will aim to assist
regional states, upon their request, in developing their own
ability to combat piracy activities. This element of the
operation is designed to complement existing international
efforts and will contribute to a lasting maritime security

USNATO 00000353 002 OF 002

solution off the Horn of Africa.

END TEXT

3. (U) Additional news about NATO counter-piracy efforts can
be found at the MCC Northwood website: www.manw.nato.int.
BYRNES

© Scoop Media