VZCZCXRO3849
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0734 3570936
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 230936Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9123
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0126
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000734
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA AF BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: UN PEACEKEEPING SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS
REF: A. STATE 129672
B. MANAMA 731
Classified By: DCM Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) We delivered ref A demarche to Sheikh Abdullah Al Khalifa of the MFA's Bilateral Relations Directorate on December
22. He took the points on board, but had no substantive comment. We followed up by phone on December 23 and Al Khalifa
reported that he had discussed the matter with Undersecretary Abdullah Abdulatif Abdullah, who said that it was
difficult for the government to justify to parliament PKO outlays at Level B when there are other GCC states with higher
GDP per capita than Bahrain who remain in Level C. Poloff reiterated USG opposition in principle to Level C. He added
that Bahrain's moving to Level C would send the wrong message and urged the GOB to reconsider.
2.(C) Despite the push to move to Level C for PKO contributions, Bahrain continues to do its part in other areas. On
December 16, a company of Bahraini Special Security Force Command policemen deployed to Camp Leatherneck in Helmand
Province, Afghanistan (ref B). The GOB spent approximately USD 10 million to prepare and equip the group to support
MARCENT operations. Current plans call for four consecutive six-month deployments. ERELI