FY2025 NDAA: Security Cooperation (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Sept. 30, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IN12430 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Christina L. Arabia |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) broadly defines “security cooperation” (also known as SC) as
department interactions with foreign security establishments to build security relationships that promote
specific U.S. security interests, develop allied and partner nation military and security capabilities for
self-defense and multinational operations, and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access
to allies and partners. DOD policy states that by encouraging and enabling cooperation between the
United States forces and partner nations’ forces to achieve strategic objectives, security cooperation
programs are a key tool for achieving U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. SC includes
DOD-administered SC programs (authorized under Title 10, U.S.C.) and DOD-implemented State
Department security assistance programs (authorized under Title 22, U.S.C.). In addition to grant-based
programs, SC encompasses the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and enables U.S. and partner
nations’ international armaments cooperation. For more background on SC, see CRS In Focus IF11677,
Defense Primer: DOD “Title 10” Security Cooperation.
The House- and Senate-passed versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
(FY2025 NDAA; H.R. 8070; S. 4638) include multiple proposals pertaining to SC programs, such as
specific regional initiatives, the export of U.S. defense articles, and SC workforce development. Table 1
summarizes selected provisions from H.R. 8070 and S. 4638 and selected items of interest noted in the
corresponding House and Senate reports accompanying their respective versions of the FY2025 NDAA
(H.Rept. 118-529; S.Rept. 118-188). Security cooperation provisions related to Israel, Taiwan, and
Ukraine are discussed below the table.
