United States Policy and Practice
Security Assistance
In addition to arms sales, the United States engages in an array of security assistance activities, including but not limited to
military and police aid, training programs, exercises, exchanges, bases and deployments. In recent years, an array of security assistance accounts have been established, often within the Defense Department, where oversight procedures are different than those of the State Department. While some have praised this process as expediting decisions, many experts have raised concerns about accountability and oversight.
Experts: Brittany Benowitz, Seth Binder, Shannon Dick, Colby Goodman, William Hartung, Lisa Haugaard, Adam Isacson, John Lindsay-Poland, Daniel Mahanty, Josh Ruebner (Palestinian Authority), Theo Sitther.
Key resources:
Recent Expert Publications*:
*publications in which Forum-listed experts were involved. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others.
In addition to arms sales, the United States engages in an array of security assistance activities, including but not limited to
military and police aid, training programs, exercises, exchanges, bases and deployments. In recent years, an array of security assistance accounts have been established, often within the Defense Department, where oversight procedures are different than those of the State Department. While some have praised this process as expediting decisions, many experts have raised concerns about accountability and oversight.
Experts: Brittany Benowitz, Seth Binder, Shannon Dick, Colby Goodman, William Hartung, Lisa Haugaard, Adam Isacson, John Lindsay-Poland, Daniel Mahanty, Josh Ruebner (Palestinian Authority), Theo Sitther.
Key resources:
- Security Assistance Monitor - a citizen's guide to US security and defense assistance
- Defense Security Cooperation Agency (US government) - International Education and Training programs
Recent Expert Publications*:
- Shannon Dick, What the National Security Strategy Might Mean for Conventional Arms Transfers, blog post, December 22nd, 2017.
- Lora Lumpe, "Congress must know more about special operations before tragedy strikes" (co-author), The Hill, Oct 31.
- Colby Goodman +, "US Foreign Military Training Reached Record Highs in 2015: Trend Report May 2017," Security Assistance Monitor, May 4.
*publications in which Forum-listed experts were involved. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others.
