FMS 2023: Enhancing Foreign Military Sales for Strategic Competition
Introduction:
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) play a crucial role in U.S. arms transfers and foreign policy. As global security conditions evolve, the U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, has undertaken a comprehensive review to adapt FMS for an age of heightened strategic competition. FMS 2023 introduces a 10-point plan of action to enhance the oversight and efficiency of the FMS process, addressing complex policy issues, industry capacity, and global supply chain disruptions. This blog post explores the key initiatives of FMS 2023 and their impact on strengthening alliances and security partnerships.
A New Approach to FMS Strategic Planning:
- Developing a Regional Approach to Arms Transfers: Anticipating future FMS demands of neighboring countries, enabling expedited policy decisions and improved interoperability.
- Prioritizing FMS Cases based on National Security Strategy Goals: Providing planning assistance and prioritization to partners identified as priorities in key national security and defense strategies.
- Promoting Proactive Uses of the Special Defense Acquisition Fund (SDAF): Accelerating delivery timelines by identifying key capabilities in demand and reducing long-lead time articles.
Improving FMS Adjudication:
- Refining the UAS Export Policy: Streamlining internal processes for adjudicating Unmanned Aerial System transfers, expediting arms transfer policy decisions.
- Enhancing Security Cooperation Officer (SCO) Training: Strengthening the ability of SCO personnel at U.S. embassies to develop proposed FMS cases and security cooperation partnerships.
- Working with Congress to Improve Consultation: Seeking process improvements to enhance consultations on FMS cases requiring Congressional notification.
- Modernizing the Congressional Notification Process: Eliminating duplicative reporting and prioritizing consultations on critical arms transfers while maintaining transparency.
Forward-Looking Support for FMS Implementation and Future Cases:
- Limiting Special Security Arrangements (SSAs): Reducing delivery times to select partners by minimizing the overuse of SSAs while ensuring appropriate technology security measures.
- Streamlining Internal Processes: Optimizing coordination to avoid delivery delays, manage expectations, and maintain awareness of changes in case status.
- Advancing Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) Policy Working Group Initiatives: Addressing financing mechanisms, non-program of record platforms, exportability, and technology security to provide enhanced options to Allies and partners.
Blog Post Summary:
FMS 2023 represents a comprehensive effort to retool the Foreign Military Sales process for an era of strategic competition. By enhancing strategic planning, improving adjudication processes, and providing forward-looking support, the United States aims to promote interoperability, strengthen alliances, and meet emerging security challenges. These initiatives demonstrate the commitment to adaptability and responsiveness in the ever-changing landscape of international security cooperation.