WikiLeaks: NZ on US-Singapore strategic framework agreement

July 15, 2005 NZ on US-Singapore strategic framework agreement

SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND ON U.S.-SINGAPORE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

REF: A. SECSTATE 125837 B. WELLINGTON 475 C. WELLINGTON 452

Classified By: POLITICAL-ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KATHERINE HADDA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D)

1. (C) On July 11, DATT AND Pol-Econ Couns shared reftel information with Air Commander Graham Lintott, Office of the Assistant Chief of Strategic Commitments and Intelligence, and Paul Sinclair, Head of International Defence Relations, NZ Defence Force. Both officials expressed gratitude at being given a heads up about the agreement. Sinclair said that his Singaporean contacts had already informed him of their strategic framework agreement talks with the United States. Pol-Econ Chief noted that the framework with Singapore was a useful example of the kind of broad, cooperative framework that the United States and New Zealand could explore should we ever engage in a dialogue about how to work through the issues that still divide us and move the bilateral relationship forward (Refs B and C).

2. (C) We were unable to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of the initiative before it was publicly announced, as staff were drawn away to working the phones in the wake of the London terrorist attacks. However, on February 13 Pol-Econ Couns forwarded a copy of the joint statement by the President and Singapore President Lee to Nigel Moore, Director of MFAT's South and Southeast Asia division. She also provided background on the agreement to Bede Corry, Director of MFAT's Office of the Chief Executive, noting the potential for similar US-NZ cooperation. On July 15, Roy Ferguson, Director of MFAT's North America Division, told Pol-Econ Couns that he and other MFAT officials were examining the information with interest. Swindells

ENDS