Guide
What is a major non-NATO ally (MNNA)?
A major non- ally is a country designated under 22 U.S.C. 2321k and 10 U.S.C. 2350a; Taiwan is treated as one by law without formal designation. The designation makes a country eligible for statutory benefits: priority delivery of grant on 's southern and southeastern flanks, stockpiles of U.S. defense articles, depleted uranium anti-tank rounds, reciprocal training agreements, and loans for .
What is a major non-NATO ally?
The statutory benefits in the and the of being designated an MNNA include eligibility for the following:
- Priority delivery of to countries on the southern and southeastern flank, to major non- allies on ’s southern and southeastern flanks, and the Philippines [Section 516 (c)(2), ]
- Stockpiling of U.S. defense articles [Section 514 (c)(2), ]
- Purchase of depleted uranium anti-tank rounds [22 U.S.C. 2378a]
- With a reciprocity agreement, be exempted of indirect costs, administrative charges, and billeting costs for training [Section 21(g), ]
The Philippines was added to this priority group by Section 1234 of P.L. 107-228.
References
SAMM
- SAMM GLOSSARY/major-non-north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato-allies-mnna — Major Non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies (MNNA)
- SAMM C4.4.9 — M-833 and Comparable Depleted Uranium Rounds.
- SAMM GLOSSARY/loan — Loan
Related
Excess Defense Articles (EDA)
Defense articles owned by the USG which are neither procured in anticipation of military assistance or sales requirements, nor procured pursuant to a military assistance or sales order. EDA are items (except construction equipment) that are in excess of the Approved Force Acquisition Objective and Approved Force Retention Stock of all DoD components at the time such articles are dropped from inventory by the supplying agency for delivery to countries or international organizations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Open the manual’s entry → (opens in new tab)
Cooperative Research and Development
A project involving joint participation by the United States and one or more countries and organizations under a memorandum of understanding (or other formal agreement) to carry out a research and development program for new conventional defense equipment and munitions, or to modify existing military equipment to meet U.S. military requirements.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Open the manual’s entry → (opens in new tab)
AECA — Arms Export Control Act
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
EDA — Excess Defense Articles
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
LOR — Letter of Request
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DSCA — Defense Security Cooperation Agency
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) →