Office of the Historian

262. Memorandum From the Director of the Joint Staff (Carter) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Armitage)1

DJSM 1850–86
Washington, October 29, 1986

SUBJECT

  • US/Moroccan Defense Cooperation (U)
1.
(S) The Joint Staff has reviewed your memorandum2 concerning King Hassan’s overture on regional defense cooperation and has determined that a positive, but guarded response would be appropriate. Morocco has the potential for substantially contributing to regional and NATO defense objectives by participating in multilateral exercises, affording US/NATO units training areas, and by providing bases access rights in times of war/crisis. While these are intriguing possibilities, we need to determine the extent of Morocco’s willingness to support NATO interests, as well as the attitudes of Spain and Portugal. Additional factors to be considered are the Western Sahara conflict and relations with Algeria.
2.
(S) It is recommended that, at the forthcoming Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks,3 we discuss the proposal with our counterparts in executive session to determine Moroccan expectations/limits. Given the fiscal constraints on both sides, the most feasible vehicle for pursuing the proposal in the near-term is the development of multilateral exercises. Currently, Morocco participates in regional defense exercises with Spain for air defense, and with the United States for air/naval/special operations. Multilateral exercises would enhance regional security capabilities and support King Hassan’s long maintained position that his country is strategically valuable to NATO.
3.
(S) The King’s proposal merits serious consideration by the US military and by the Department of State. An interagency group (IG) should evaluate the proposal and consider the potential ramifications on US/Moroccan relations with regional states, NATO, and the Soviets. The IG should produce a proposed US position prior to the [Page 545] JMC, evaluate the information obtained at the JMC, and then prepare recommendations on how the President should respond to the King when they meet next year.
4.
(U) Enclosed, for your information, is a background paper prepared for me on this subject.4
P. F. Carter, Jr.
Vice Admiral, USN
Director, Joint Staff
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–88–0039, 1986 Official Records (Secret & Below) of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Executive Secretary to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Box 36, Morocco 1985. Secret.↩
  2. ASD/ISA Memo, I–25864/86, 1 October 1986, subject as above. [Footnote is in the original. The memorandum is printed as Document 261.]↩
  3. A summary of the JMC meeting, which took place December 3–4 in Rabat, is in telegram 12089 from Rabat, December 9. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no D number])↩
  4. Not attached.↩