SECRET
薯
C.
Supply of small number of personnel to Secretariat.
d. Participation in joint military exercises.
e.
Declared forces to CENTO 16 Vulcan bombers; 8 Canberra photo-reconnaissance aircraft and 3 Nimrod long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft based on Cyprus and Malta.
Costs (including declared
aircraft but excluding support costs, which are included in Malta and Cyprus figures)
1973/4
£22m
Annual Average 1978/9-1983/4
£29m
It should be noted that these costs relate almost entirely to the aircraft in Malta and Cyprus. The primary role of these aircraft is national and no saving would accrue simply by withdrawing their declaration to CENTO.
B) OMAN AND THE GULF Under the 1958 exchange of letters with Oman, the UK is able for a very low rental (£2,000 pa) to have exclusive use of the airfield on Masirah island. In return, HMG undertake to maintain and defend the airfield at Salalah and to loan officers to assist the Sultan (who pays for them) against guerilla activity in Dhofar. Elsewhere in the Gulf, personnel are provided on loan to the forces of the UAE in an advisory capacity to Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (these personnel are paid for by the States concerned). There is also a military advisory team at Sharjah (which will cost £311,000 on the FCO vote in 1974-75). There are regular brief visits by HM ships and aircraft.
Functional Cost: The annual cost of these activities amounts to less than £2m.
5. THE SOUTH ATLANTIC AND THE CARIBBEAN
A)
The Caribbean HMG has responsibility for the internal security and external defence of the Caribbean dependent territories and Bermuda, and for the external defence of the West Indies Associated States. This commitment is met by the maintenance in Bermuda of a naval headquarters to which are assigned two frigates. HMG has also
/undertaken
SECRET
4