303. Memorandum From Robert Lilac of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)1
SUBJECT
- Tunisian Joint Military Commission
The second annual U.S.-Tunisia Joint Military Commission (JMC) met in Newport, Rhode Island on September 2–4, 1982.2 The U.S. delegation was headed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Bing West and the Tunisian delegation by Minister of Defense Slaheddine Baly. I represented the NSC Staff. The meetings included a comprehensive threat briefing by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and committee sessions on security assistance, combined exercises and military training. The subject of access or prepositioning did not come up other than in the context of that inherent in the agreement to continue combined exercises. The JMC was a very useful exchange of views on our security assistance programs. It focused on repeated pleas from the Tunisians for more security assistance funding by the U.S.
Minister Baly presented a detailed report on the depth of commitment made by President Bourguiba in aligning with U.S. interests globally and in the region. Baly stressed the threat from Libya. Tunisia’s participation in the solution of the West Beirut problem3 and their part in the failure of the O.A.U. summit have resulted in a worsening of relations with Libya. He stressed that while the U.S. 6th Fleet is a guarantee, President Bourguiba insists that Tunisia must remain sovereign and have the means to defend itself. He pointed out that this decision, and the one of political alignment with the U.S. were very difficult for Tunisia. Tunisian resources must be dedicated to their domestic problems. Therefore he summed up in asking for more assistance in building a credible military defensive capability. He asked for FY 83 increases in grants, loans on better terms, FY 82 supplemental increases, and reprogramming of any excess FY 82 funds from other countries to Tunisia.
Defense did an excellent job of pointing out that the President had requested $95 million in FY 82 and $140M in FY 83. The Congress reduced the FY 82 figure to $85 million. Congress had removed any FY 82 [Page 631] supplemental funds for Tunisia. He pointed out that Congressional action to date in FY 83 indicates a level less than the President’s request. The possibility of a Continuing Resolution (C.R.A.) at the FY 82 level of $85 million was also discussed. Minister Baly and Ambassador Ben Yahia plan to make calls on the Hill during the week of September 6 to urge support for Tunisia.
The possibility of obtaining help from their Arab friends, such as the Saudis, was discussed. The Tunisians said that the Saudis have not been very forthcoming in this area.
The discussion on combined exercises went well. The two ongoing annual exercises, one with the 6th Fleet and one with U.S. unconventional warfare elements in Europe will continue in 1983. There were no major problems in this area. The training committee reviewed requests for more funding (IMET) and increased numbers of Tunisians in the U.S.
Defense will be working on the specific issues raised during the JMC. It was obvious that the Tunisian delegation was seriously disgruntled only in the area of security assistance funds available from the U.S.
- Source: Reagan Library, Geoffrey T.H. Kemp Files, Subject File, Tunisia 1982 (September–December 1982). Secret. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Teicher, Kemp, North, Helm, and Boverie.↩
- No minutes of the meeting were found.↩
- Reference is to Bourguiba’s decision to allow Arafat and the PLO to leave West Beirut for Tunisia. See Document 302.↩