Office of the Historian

79. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, May 16, 1980

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

  • President’s Review of the Persian Gulf Security Framework SCC—X (S)

The President has reviewed the Summary of Conclusions of the SCC meeting on the Persian Gulf Security Framework, held on May 13.2 His reaction and instructions are:

1. That we consider Egypt as a potential location for exercises as well as Kenya and Somalia. The Department of Defense should prepare a paper outlining an exercise proposal. The Department of State should comment and recommend an approach to Egypt.

2. Approval of the SCC recommendation of a direct approach to Saudi Arabia in an effort to increase Saudi financial support for regional security assistance and to coordinate it with our own.

3. Endorsement of the division of labor concept for coordinating U.S. and allied contributions to the security of the Persian Gulf region.

4. Approval of the gap until late June 1980 in our ground forces presence in the Indian Ocean on a one-time-only basis. (S)

These instructions are in addition to the NSC tasking memorandum of May 14.3

Zbigniew Brzezinski
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, David D. Newsom Subject Files, Lot 81D154, Box 14, President’s Responses to SCC, 1980. Secret; Sensitive; Exdis.↩
  2. See Document 78.↩
  3. Reference is to a May 14 tasking memorandum that Dodson sent to Muskie and Brown. (Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R, Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 13, Folder 6, SCC Meeting ME Security (No. 11)↩