The United States of America today announced the entry into force of the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Reports say the treaty was signed in 2007 and ratified in 2010. It aims to ease the export of defense articles between the two countries by reducing the need for export licenses and other International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) approvals for certain items.
In her remarks at DC, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today said the Treaty is a result of the close, longstanding relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Treaty will help American and British troops get the best technology in the fastest way possible so they can continue to defend US interests and protect US national security around the world, Ms. Clinton noted.
She stresses that UK is already one of the United States’ most significant defense trading partners.
Through the creation of an approved community of users, it is now faster and easier for U.S. and UK industry to develop and field future technologies that support U.S. and British government interests, she highlighted.
“Our two countries share a deeply rooted history and an unbreakable friendship.” -Ms. Clinton
The treaty will further strengthen our relationship as we work together to build a safer, more secure world, she said.
On June 21 2007, the United States and the United Kingdom have signed a treaty to remove bureaucratic barriers and export license requirements between the defense industries of the two allies.
President Bush and former Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed on the treaty June 21. They did not meet in person, but instead exchanged signed copies of the treaty via trans-Atlantic courier. Blair stepped down June 27 after serving a decade as prime minister.
On the 29th of September, 2010, the United States Senate approved the U.S.-UK and the U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties. These treaties recognize and support the long-standing special relationship between the United States and two of its closest allies.
The treaties allow for the export or transfer of certain defense articles and defense services controlled pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) between certain persons in the United States and the United Kingdom, pursuant to the U.S.-UK treaty, or between certain persons in the United States and Australia, pursuant to the U.S-Australia treaty, without the need for export licenses or other ITAR approvals.
In doing so, these treaties support U.S. national security interests by assisting US armed forces in obtaining the best technology possible in the most expeditious manner possible so that they may possess the critical capability of interoperability, which is essential to US success in meeting shared security challenges.
