Cablegate: (2004) Request for Canadian Maritime Patrol

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003105

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/CARROLL, JOINT STAFF FOR J5, COGARD FOR
KEISERMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL CA
SUBJECT: (2004) REQUEST FOR CANADIAN MARITIME PATROL
AIRCRAFT SUPPORT FOR USSOUTHCOM/JIATF-S COUNTERDRUG
OPERATIONS

REF: A. (A) 04 OTTAWA 3368 (NOTAL)
B. (B) 04 STATE 262028

1. Post received the following response to reftel B request
via diplomatic note dated 11 October 2005:

BEGIN TEXT:

Note no. IDR0485

The Department of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to
the Embassy of the United States of America and has the
honour to refer to the Embassy's demarche of 14 December 2004
requesting Canada's assistance in counter-drug operations in
the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions

The Government of Canada is pleased to confirm its agreement
to deploy Canadian Forces (CF) Maritime Patrol Aircraft
(MPA), CP-140 Auroras to assist in United States-led efforts
to enhance counter-drug detection and monitoring in the
Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions. These regions remain
a priority in terms of Canada's bilateral and multilateral
engagement to enhance international security, with a
particular focus on counter-narcotics efforts.

Accordingly, Government of Canada cooperation with the
Government of the United States of America will be guided by
the following foreign policy principles:

-- CF support will be limited to surveillance and information
sharing with relevant authorities participating in United
States-led efforts to stem the trafficking of illicit drugs
in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions;

-- CF surveillance operations are to be conducted only
outside the claimed territorial waters and claimed
territorial airspace of countries in the region.

Canada's Department of National Defense will liaise directly
with the United States' Department of Defense in order to
identify appropriate windows of opportunity for the
deployment of Canadian Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The Department of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States the
assurances of its highest consideration.

OTTAWA, 11 October, 2005

END TEXT.

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