International Partnerships Beyond 2000
Abstract
The convergence of two trends - increasing likelihood of committing forces to coalition operations and reduced defense budgets - make the case for greater armaments cooperation with friends and allies. Deploying forces in coalition operations with the forces of other countries places a high premium on interoperability - that is, ensuring that U.S. and allied systems are compatible and can be sustained through a common logistics support structure. The heightened emphasis on coalition operations, to include operations other than war, is especially important because it comes during a period of declining defense budgets not only in the United States, but around the globe as well. In this environment, it is clear to me that we will have to leverage the technology and industrial base of all our nations to modernize the equipment of our defense forces at an affordable cost and in the end - obtain "best value for the money." The United States and its allies are being challenged to do more with fewer resources, and cooperation provides the needed leverage. In many areas, the U.S. no longer has the luxury of going it alone. In addition to the economic and military reasons I have just cited, the United States seeks cooperation with its friends and allies for political reasons as well - these programs help strengthen the connective tissue - the military and industrial relationships that bind our nations in a strong security relationship. The political dimension of armaments cooperation is becoming increasingly important in an uncertain international security environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA339272
Entities
People
- Paul G. Kaminski
Organizations
- Office Of The Under Secretary Of Defense