Why does the United States sell arms?

Congress recognizes that the U.S. and other free and independent countries have valid defense requirements. Because of the growing cost and complexity of defense equipment, it is increasingly difficult and uneconomical for any country to fill all of its legitimate defense requirements from its own design and production base. Therefore, it is the policy of the U.S. to facilitate the common defense by entering into international arrangements that further the cooperative exchange of data, research, development, production, procurement, and logistics support. To this end, the AECA authorizes sales by the USG to friendly countries in furtherance of the security objectives of the U.S. and in consonance with the principles of the UN Charter [Section 1, AECA].

Defense articles and services shall be furnished or sold solely for the following:

• Internal security
• Legitimate self-defense
• Preventing or hindering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering such weapons
• Permitting the recipient country to participate in regional or collective arrangements consistent with the Charter of the United Nations
• Supporting economic and social development activities by foreign military forces in less developed countries [Section 502, FAA, and Section 4, AECA]

It is the sense of the Congress that arms sales shall be approved only when they are consistent with U.S. foreign policy interests [Section 1, AECA].

Section 501 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) statement of policy outlines the goals of the legislation. In it, Congress reaffirms the policy of the United States to achieve international peace and security through the United Nations and to only use armed force for individual or collective defense. Military assistance to friendly countries to promote peace and security are guided by the principle of effective self-help and mutual aid while exerting maximum efforts for universal control of weapons of mass destruction and regulation and reduction of armaments [Section 501, FAA].

The Arms Export Control Act Section 1 states that the ultimate goal of the U.S. continues to be a world that is free from the scourge of war and the danger and burdens of armaments, in which the use of force has been subordinate to the rule of law and international adjustments are achieved peacefully. U.S. policy remains to encourage regional arms control and disarmaments agreements, and to discourage arms races. U.S. policy is also to exert leadership in the world community to bring about arrangements for reducing the international trade in the implements of war [Section 1, AECA].

Congress encourages the President to maintain adherence to a policy of restraint in conventional arms transfer and to continue discussions with other arms suppliers in order to restrain the flow of conventional arms to less developed countries. It is the sense of the Congress that the aggregate value of FMS in any FY shall not exceed current levels [Section 1, AECA]. This provision was added to the AECA in June 1976.

FMS sales that would have an adverse effect on U.S. combat readiness shall be kept to an absolute minimum. For such sales, the President would be required to provide a written explanation to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees.