270. Telegram From the Embassy in Morocco to the Departments of State and Defense1
6723.
Rabat, July 13, 1987, 1717Z
SUBJECT
- King Hassan Comments on Bilateral Military Issues.
- 1.
- (Secret—Entire text)
- 2.
- King Hassan and I discussed two bilateral political-military issues during our July 12 meeting (see also septels):2 U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation, and Moroccan interest General Dynamics’ F–16.
- 3.
- U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation: I noted that Morocco had asked us to put our own thoughts together to produce a comprehensive proposal for U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation, notably in the field of exercises; outlined for Hassan the process whereby different branches of the U.S. military are evaluating their interests for eventual coordination at the level of the Secretaries of Defense and of State; and asked Hassan how we should proceed on organizing such matters as site visits for the elaboration of training or exercise proposals.
- 4.
- Hassan stressed that the issue of military cooperation is one that involves the political will of each side and that Morocco is open to our proposals. He noted that the Moroccan people are very sensitive to international affairs; that he alone is capable of persuading the Moroccan people to welcome a foreign military presence on Moroccan soil; and that in this era of “third-worldism” and “non-alignment” (even as fictive as Cuba’s), people would be attentive to what benefits each side was contributing and deriving from military cooperation. Hassan spoke dismissively of a piecemeal case-by-case approach to military cooperation as something which would limit activity to “the grocery store level.” He said that if Spain remained obdurate, Morocco and Portugal could prove helpful, and suggested such helpfulness could come in the context of a bilateral mutual defense treaty between Portugal (as a “happy” NATO member) and Morocco.
- 5.
- On the specific question of how to proceed on organizing visits designed to further U.S. military thinking on cooperation, Hassan said the Embassy should work through Foreign Minister Filali and General Achahbar (or in his absence, Colonel Major Kadiri) regardless of what service branch is involved. Hassan stressed that this procedure will ensure that he is informed of developments and that such visits are properly handled at the local level, i.e., cooperatively, discretely, and positively. (Note: In this regard Hassan made passing reference to a German request for access to a Moroccan airfield for training purposes. End note.)
- 6.
- Comment. I briefed King Hassan on this matter because he had been briefed by General Kabbaj on the USAREUR portion and had requested this matter be discussed with Secretary of Defense Weinberger or his envoy. I wanted to correct the impression that the Secretary of Defense had already approved a military cooperation program.
Nassif