§ 2751. Need for international defense cooperation and military export controls; Presidential waiver; report to Congress; arms sales policy

§ 2751. Need for international defense cooperation and military export controls; Presidential waiver; report to Congress; arms sales policy

As declared by the Congress in the Arms Control and Disarmament Act [22 U.S.C. 2551 et seq.], an ultimate goal of the United States continues to be a world which is free from the scourge of war and the dangers and burdens of armaments; in which the use of force has been subordinated to the rule of law; and in which international adjustments to a changing world are achieved peacefully. In furtherance of that goal, it remains the policy of the United States to encourage regional arms control and disarmament agreements and to discourage arms races.

The Congress recognizes, however, that the United States and other free and independent countries continue to have valid requirements for effective and mutually beneficial defense relationships in order to maintain and foster the environment of international peace and security essential to social, economic, and political progress. Because of the growing cost and complexity of defense equipment, it is increasingly difficult and uneconomic for any country, particularly a developing country, to fill all of its legitimate defense requirements from its own design and production base. The need for international defense cooperation among the United States and those friendly countries to which it is allied by mutual defense treaties is especially important, since the effectiveness of their armed forces to act in concert to deter or defeat aggression is directly related to the operational compatibility of their defense equipment.

Accordingly, it remains the policy of the United States to facilitate the common defense by entering into international arrangements with friendly countries which further the objective of applying agreed resources of each country to programs and projects of cooperative exchange of data, research, development, production, procurement, and logistics support to achieve specific national defense requirements and objectives of mutual concern. To this end, this chapter authorizes sales by the United States Government to friendly countries having sufficient wealth to maintain and equip their own military forces at adequate strength, or to assume progressively larger shares of the costs thereof, without undue burden to their economies, in accordance with the restraints and control measures specified herein and in furtherance of the security objectives of the United States and of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

It is the sense of the Congress that all such sales be approved only when they are consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States, the purposes of the foreign assistance program of the United States as embodied in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], the extent and character of the military requirement, and the economic and financial capability of the recipient country, with particular regard being given, where appropriate, to proper balance among such sales, grant military assistance, and economic assistance as well as to the impact of the sales on programs of social and economic development and on existing or incipient arms races.

It shall be the policy of the United States to exert leadership in the world community to bring about arrangements for reducing the international trade in implements of war and to lessen the danger of outbreak of regional conflict and the burdens of armaments. United States programs for or procedures governing the export, sale, and grant of defense articles and defense services to foreign countries and international organizations shall be administered in a manner which will carry out this policy.

It is the sense of the Congress that the President should seek to initiate multilateral discussions for the purpose of reaching agreements among the principal arms suppliers and arms purchasers and other countries with respect to the control of the international trade in armaments. It is further the sense of Congress that the President should work actively with all nations to check and control the international sale and distribution of conventional weapons of death and destruction and to encourage regional arms control arrangements. In furtherance of this policy, the President should undertake a concerted effort to convene an international conference of major arms-supplying and arms-purchasing nations which shall consider measures to limit conventional arms transfers in the interest of international peace and stability.

It is the sense of the Congress that the aggregate value of defense articles and defense services—

(1) which are sold under section 2761 or section 2762 of this title; or

(2) which are licensed or approved for export under section 2778 of this title to, for the use, or for benefit of the armed forces, police, intelligence, or other internal security forces of a foreign country or international organization under a commercial sales contract;

in any fiscal year should not exceed current levels.

It is the sense of the Congress that the President maintain adherence to a policy of restraint in conventional arms transfers and that, in implementing this policy worldwide, a balanced approach should be taken and full regard given to the security interests of the United States in all regions of the world and that particular attention should be paid to controlling the flow of conventional arms to the nations of the developing world. To this end, the President is encouraged to continue discussions with other arms suppliers in order to restrain the flow of conventional arms to less developed countries.

(Pub. L. 90–629, ch. 1, § 1, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1321; Pub. L. 91–672, § 4, Jan. 12, 1971, 84 Stat. 2053; Pub. L. 93–189, § 25(1), Dec. 17, 1973, 87 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 94–329, title II, § 202, formerly § 202(a), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 734, renumbered and amended Pub. L. 95–384, §§ 15(a), 29(c)(1)(A), Sept. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 739, 747; Pub. L. 97–113, title VII, § 734(a)(10), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1560.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Arms Control and Disarmament Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 87–297, Sept. 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 631, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 2551 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2551 of this title, and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 90–629, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1321, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, which is classified principally to chapter 32 (§ 2151 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1981—Pub. L. 97–113 struck out paragraph which provided that it was the sense of Congress that sales and guaranties under sections 2761, 2762, 2763, and 2764 of this title not be approved where they would have had the effect of arming military dictators who were denying the growth of fundamental rights or social progress to their own people but allowing the President to waive this limitation when he determined it would be important to the security of the United States, and promptly so reported to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Senate.

1978—Pub. L. 95–384, § 15(a), inserted paragraph relating to adherence to a policy of restraint in conventional arms transfer.

1976—Pub. L. 94–329 substituted in last paragraph provision relating to a new statement of policy whereby the United States shall exert leadership in the reduction of international trade in arms, and in that regard, the President to initiate discussions and actively work with other nations with a view towards control of international trade in arms, for provisions relating to a reduction in the role of the United States in furnishing of defense articles and defense services to foreign countries and international organizations by decreasing sales, credit sales and guarantees of such articles and services.

1973—Pub. L. 93–189 inserted last paragraph relating to a reduction by the United States in the furnishing of defense articles and defense services to foreign countries.

1971—Pub. L. 91–672 substituted “denying the growth of fundamental rights or social progress” for “denying social progress” in last par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2025 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1085(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1054, provided that: “This section [amending section 2778 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2778 of this title] may be cited as the ‘AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025’.”

References to Foreign Military Sales Act Deemed Reference to Arms Export Control Act

Pub. L. 94–329, title II, § 201(b), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 734, provided that: “Any reference to the Foreign Military Sales Act [see Short Title note below] shall be deemed to be a reference to the Arms Export Control Act.”

References to Present Instead of Past Provisions; Specific Application of Other Provisions to This Chapter

Pub. L. 90–629, ch. 4, § 45(c), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1327, provided that: “References in law to the provisions of law repealed by subsection (a) of this section [repealing sections 2341 to 2343, 2344(b)(3), 2345, 2394(g), and 2399a of this title] shall hereafter [on and after Oct. 22, 1968] be deemed to be references to this Act [this chapter] or appropriate provisions of this Act. Except for the laws specified in section 44 [section 2793 of this title], no other provision of law shall be deemed to apply to this Act unless it refers specifically to this Act or refers generally to sales of defense articles and defense services under any Act.”

Effective Date

Pub. L. 90–629, ch. 4, § 41, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1326, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 2344, 2382, 2392, 2394, and 2403 of this title, repealing sections 2341 to 2343, 2345, and 2399a of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 2341 of this title] shall take effect on July 1, 1968.”

Short Title of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–123, § 1, Feb. 18, 2016, 130 Stat. 117, provided that: “This Act [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2753 of this title] may be cited as the ‘United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015’.”

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–266, § 1, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2797, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 2321h, 2753, 2755, 2761, 2765, 2776, 2778, 2779, 2779a, 2796a, and 2796b of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 2778 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Security Cooperation Act of 2010’.”

Pub. L. 111–266, title I, § 101, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2797, provided that: “This title [amending sections 2753, 2755, 2765, 2776, 2778, 2779, and 2779a of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2778 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties Implementation Act of 2010’.”

Short Title of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. B, § 1001], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–485, provided that: “This division [div. B of H.R. 3427 as enacted by section 1000(a)(7) of Pub. L. 106–113, see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Security Assistance Act of 1999’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–194, § 1, July 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 627, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2799aa–1 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2799aa–1 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Agriculture Export Relief Act of 1998’.”

Short Title of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–228, § 1, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1691, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 2595b–1 and 2799 to 2799d of this title, amending sections 2581, 2589, 2595, and 2595c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2551 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty Implementation Act of 1991’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–629, § 1, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1320, as amended by Pub. L. 94–329, title II, § 201(a), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 734, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 2382, 2392, 2394, and 2403 of this title, repealing sections 2341 to 2343, 2344, 2345, 2394, and 2399 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 2341 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Arms Export Control Act’.”

Advancements in Defense Cooperation Between the United States and India

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XII, § 1258, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1683, provided that: “(a) In General.— [Amended section 1292 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note below.] “(b) Interagency Definition of India as Major Defense Partner.—The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly produce a common definition that recognizes India’s status as a ‘Major Defense Partner’ for joint use by the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce. “(c) Responsibility for Enhanced Cooperation.—“(1) Designation of responsible individual.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 2017], the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State jointly shall make the designation required by paragraph (1)(B) of section 1292(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 [Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note below]. “(2) Additional duties.— [Amended section 1292 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note below.] “(3) Briefings.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, appropriate officials of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and appropriate officials of the Department of State shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the actions of the Department of Defense and the Department of State, respectively, to promote defense cooperation between the United States and India and the duties specified in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1292(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (as amended by paragraph (2) of this subsection). The requirement for briefings under this paragraph shall cease on the date of the designation of an individual pursuant to paragraph (1). “(4) Appropriate committees of congress defined.—In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means—“(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and “(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.”

Enhancing Defense and Security Cooperation With India