Office of the Historian

223. Memorandum From Stephen Larrabee of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, March 14, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Romanian Request for Military Supply Relationship (S)

As I noted in my Evening Report (Tab B),2 the Romanians have again approached us about entering into a military supply relationship with them. Our military attache, acting on instructions, met with Romanian MOD Chief of Intelligence, Admiral Dinu (see cable at Tab A)3 on March 5 to hear what the Romanians had in mind. In essence, Admiral Dinu reaffirmed the approach the Romanians had made several years ago when they had provided the U.S. with a list of desired [Page 709] equipment.4 Admiral Dinu stated that as far as he knew, the earlier request was still open and that the Romanians would like technical assistance regardless of licensing arrangements which would enhance their defense capability. He acknowledged the difficulty in establishing such a relationship. What he sought was simply an indication that the U.S. might be willing to help. (S)

Our attache limited himself to describing the difficulties involved but made no commitment one way or the other. (S)

Dinu’s approach most assuredly had high-level backing and could not have been undertaken without Ceausescu’s approval. At present, DoD is not ready to ask Brown to take any specific action. In addition to the political implications and difficulties, there are major legal and financial problems associated with transferring such technology to a Warsaw Pact country. Indeed, because of our emphasis on human rights, the difficulties today are even greater than they were several years ago when the Romanians first made the approach. Nonetheless, the Romanian offer remains interesting, and I do not feel we should entirely shut the door on the Romanians.5 (S)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 66, Romania, 4/79–3/80. Secret; Outside System. Sent for information. A copy was sent to Kimmitt. A stamped notation indicates Brzezinski saw the memorandum.↩
  2. Dated March 4. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. Not attached. The Defense Attaché in Bucharest reported his conversation with the Romanian officer in a March 6 telegram to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Europe, USSR, and East/West, Box 29, Romania 6/77–10/80)↩
  4. In a March 14 memorandum to Vance, Vest and O’Donohue described the Romanian approach and offered background information on the initial approach the Romanians made in 1975. The discussions on establishing a military supply relationship ended in 1976 when the Romanians were told the United States faced legal constraints in establishing such a relationship with a Warsaw Pact country. (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Under Secretary for Security Assistance, Science and Technology, Chron Files Speeches, and Papers of Lucy W. Benson (1979) and Matthew Nimetz (1980), Lot 81D321, Box 6, Matthew Nimetz, Chron, March 11–31, 1980) During a port visit of the USS Biddle to Romania in November 1978, Deputy Minister of Defense Vasile Ionel also brought up the issue. (National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Office of Analysis for the Commonwealth and Eastern Europe, Office Subject Files, 1965–1980, Lot 92D412, Box 6, Romania-US—Cult/Sci/Tech)↩
  5. Brzezinski wrote at the bottom of the memorandum: “DA, shouldn’t we have a mini-SCC on this?” David Aaron wrote in response “OK, schedule it.”↩