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Spain Hosts Counterproliferation Exercise over Mediterranean

06 June 2005

Proliferation Security Initiative To focus on WMD trafficking by air

By Jacquelyn S. Porth
Washington File Security Affairs Writer

Washington –- Spain will host its first air exercise designed to practice procedures that might be required of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) partners if they ever need to intercept unconventional weapons in the western Mediterranean.

“Blue Action ’05,” which unfolds June 7-8, is the 30th PSI activity since the initiative was launched in Poland two years ago.  The initiative -- which has garnered support from more than 60 nations -- is a voluntary, international effort to intercept the illegal transfer of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems or related materials.

On May 31 President Bush issued a statement supporting expansion of the multinational air-land-sea initiative on the second anniversary of its launch.

In his own PSI anniversary comments, Australian Minister of Defense Alexander Downer said interest expressed recently by groups like al-Qaida in acquiring and using unconventional weapons “adds a new, horrific dimension to the specter of mass murder by rogue countries or terrorists.”  He said PSI’s operational strength has grown rapidly and the initiative “has scored significant successes in stopping proliferators in their tracks.”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also highlighted that record of success during an anniversary event at the State Department.  She said there have been 11 successful PSI operations in the past year.  “PSI cooperation stopped the transshipment of material and equipment bound for ballistic missile programs in countries of concern, including Iran,” the secretary told gathered military attaches, ambassadors and diplomats May 31.

“PSI partners, working at times with others, have prevented Iran from procuring goods to support its missile and WMD programs including its nuclear program,” Rice said.

Speaking at the secretary’s anniversary event, Danish Ambassador to the United States Ulrik Federspiel described PSI as one of the most promising contributions in the fight against terrorism and WMD proliferation and said “it is useful as a supplement to the existing multilateral regimes and agreements in this field.”  He also called on all nations that have not already done so to engage in PSI cooperation.

The Spanish exercise, which will refine standard air operating procedures, will unfold in two phases.  In the earlier phase, PSI participants will exchange information, consult and coordinate from capitals in and around the region about a cargo airliner flying from a fictitious country in Eurasia to the Portuguese Azores en route to South America.  The aircraft is suspected of carrying centrifuge parts under the label of water purification pipes.  Action picks up in the follow-on phase as radar tracks the aircraft in real time flying over Italy, France and Spain.

As the “Blue Action” scenario unfolds, new intelligence is passed on to suggest that the commercial craft is, instead, ferrying radioactive material for undisclosed use and that the plane will deviate from its filed flight plan and travel to an unnamed African nation.  According to the scenario, swift action must be taken to prevent the dangerous shipment from reaching its destination in Africa, because the country in question has links to terrorist organizations.

During the PSI exercise –- the 16th to date –- the Spanish Air Force will be directed by the Spanish Ministry of Defense to shadow and then intercept the commercial aircraft.  With PSI nations and invited observers watching, the aircraft will be diverted to Spain’s Zaragoza Air Base.  There, its “suspicious” cargo will be inspected and then disposed of by law enforcement and security forces so that it will not end up as part of a concealed nuclear weapons program.

“Blue Action” is the second PSI exercise to be held within a month.  Poland and the Czech Republic hosted “Bohemian Guard 2005” May 31-June 2.  Participants included Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia and the United States.  The scenario for that ground interdiction exercise involved an illegal rail shipment of WMD goods and materials traveling from Poland via the Czech Republic to a third nation.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the European Union and NATO have all expressed support for the uniquely action-oriented PSI, which itself has no formal structure or headquarters.

Singapore will be the next nation to host a PSI exercise in August.  “Deep Sabre” will run from August 15-19.  Speaking at an Asian security conference in Singapore June 4, that nation’s defense minister said PSI and regional maritime security initiatives demonstrate the solid contributions armed forces can make “to enhance international cooperation against non-conventional threats."

Japan, a nation that experienced first-hand the terror of chemical gas attack in its subway system a decade ago, is deeply involved in PSI.  In October 2004, Japan hosted a PSI maritime interdiction exercise: “Team Samurai ‘04.”  Now, Minister of State for Defense Yoshinori Ohno says his country is considering sending ships and aircraft to participate in Singapore’s “Deep Sabre.”  Speaking at the Singapore security conference June 4, Ohno expressed his hope that there will be “wider participation” in PSI.

For additional information about the initiative and how to join the effort, see Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)