LUXEMBOURG NEW GOVERNMENT ASSUMES POWER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R001100450001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 24, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/04: CIA-RDP85T00287RO01100450001-2
24 July 1984
MEMORANDUM
Luxembourg New Government Assumes Power
Luxembourg's new Christian Social-Socialist coalition government, which
will probably assume office this week, will not alter the Grand Duchy's pro-
NAT~ok, but support for some Alliance programs will probably weaken.
The presence of Socialists in the cabinet and especially the appointment
of party leader Jacques Poos as Foreign Minister, probably means the
government will be split on proposals to increase defense spending and expand
NATO facilities in Luxembourg. In recent years, the leftwing of the Socialist
Party has attacked what it calls the "militarization of Luxembourg" and was
especially critical of the previous center-right government's decision to
register AWACS in Luxembourg and to support expansion of US facilities. The
need to satisfy leftist concerns may force Poos and his Socialist cabinet
colleagues to adopt a more skeptical view of selected NATO programs.
Proposals to enhance Luxembourg's reserve forces and to expand US ammunition
storage facilities, for example, probably will be more contentious than would
have been the case under the previous government. According to the US
Embassy, Poos is particularly interested in Third World issues. We suspect
that he might be tempted to satisfy the Socialist left by taking a more
critical tone toward Washington on issues such as Central America and southern
Africa in order to deflect attention from more substantive matters concerning
iun-rn
There are, however, clear limits on how far the Socialists can go in
adopting a more skeptical view of US and NATO policies. Luxembourg's
fundamentally pro-US outlook and long tradition of support for the NATO and EC
consensus in foreign policy would make it difficult for the Socialists to
change major programs even if their leaders wanted to. Poos himself is likely
to support measures that ensure Luxembourg's reputation as a dependable
ally. Finally, the dominant Christian Social Party will oppose any proposals
that could weaken Luxembourg's participation in the Alliance.
EUR M 84-10152
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Orig - General Rogers, SAC EURA
1 - DDI Registry
1 - DDI
1 - ADDI
1 - OD/EURA
2 - Production Staff
4 - IMC/CB
1 - Branch file
1 - Division file
EURA/WE 24Jul84)
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