Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

346. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Weinberger to President Reagan¹

Washington, November 28, 1986

SUBJECT

• Weekly Activity Report

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]

Meeting with Tunisian Ambassador: On Wednesday, Ambassador Habib Ben Yahia asked to meet with me to convey the following message from Defense Minister Baly.² Regarding U.S./Tunisian contingency planning initiated earlier this month between European Command and Tunisian military officials, the Minister expressed his deep satisfaction with our progress thus far, and with our mutual commitment to Tunisia’s security that is implied through these planning talks. Secondly, he asked for our support in doing what we can to keep Tunisia’s FY 1987 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from being cut. I responded that FMS are a problem for us in many countries, which is why it is important for us to find ways to make our dollars go farther, such as through planning efforts and exercises, to improve Tunisia’s military capability.

The Ambassador then stated that Minister Baly had asked him to convey President Bourguiba’s full support for this initiative and his interest in continuing such cooperation. President Bourguiba wants us to know that he believes the challenge and the menace are no less than they used to be, and therefore we must remain vigilant. I assured him that we share this view of the Libyan threat completely. Finally, Ambassador Ben Yahia stated that he had been asked to convey, on behalf of both the President and Defense Minister, the fullest sense of U.S./Tunisian credibility to us at a time when they know U.S. credibility is being questioned. President Bourguiba wants us to be assured that Tunisia has the fullest confidence in, and fully supports, us. I expressed my gratitude for this warm and welcome message, noting that I would pass it to you directly.

This was a welcome meeting and message. We need the Tunisians, and I was delighted that they feel our joint work with them is helpful. (TS)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]

Cap

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–88–0040, 1986 Official Records (Top Secret) of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Executive Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Box 1, DOD 1986. Top Secret.
2. In telegram 7853 from Tunis, November 25, Sebastian reported that on November 24 Mabrouk informed him: “President Bourguiba would like the President and SecDef to know of his satisfaction with tenor and progress of recently conducted joint planning talks.” Bourguiba, he commented, also “remains committed to ultimate reliance on the U.S. in case Tunisia’s security is threatened by Qadhafi. He wants talks to proceed and clearly hopes that, notwithstanding conditional and contingent nature of results, U.S. interest in Tunisia’s security and integrity will be further strengthened.” (Ibid.)