TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 221

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX C

Outside Europe

South America

1. The South American sub-continent remains generally one of

the less promising areas sales of UK defence equipment, in view of

the low credit rating of most of the countries in the area;

political sensitivities following the Falklands' conflict also

continue to require a cautious approach in re-establishing our

defence relations. However, in view of AST 412 developments,

there may be a requirement for US of S(DP) to visit Brazil and

should this materialize, the opportunity might also be taken

to initiate a new sales relationship with Mexico. Following

visits by S of S and Minister (AF) last year, the Falklands will

again be well covered with a visit by US of S(AF) in January and

a further visit by S of S in early May for the opening of the

airfield at Mount Pleasant.

Africa

2. Both the FCO and MOD attach high priority to a further

Ministerial visit to Nigeria. Though US of S(DP) visited the

country last year, this was itself the first Defence Ministerial

visit for a number of years and will have been seen as largely

concerned with our defence sales interests in the country. In

view of our longstanding defence ties with Nigeria, her political

importance in W Africa, our wider commercial and political

interest in the country and the accession of the military govern-

ment, it is considered that an early, more broadly based, visit

should be made. Particularly given the large size of our LSP

contingent this might best be undertaken by Minister (AF) who

might also take in a visit to Senegal (in view of our Falklands

Airbridge staging interests there) and to Gambia (where a small

British team is overseeing the creation of a new Army). Such a

C 1 CONFIDENTIAL