New human rights focus for arms sales touches ‘everything,’ State official says

New human rights focus for arms sales touches ‘everything,’ State official says
New human rights focus for arms sales touches ‘everything,’ State official says

Rising demand for US weapons is “the new normal,” a State official said, but cases involving human rights issues are getting more deliberation following new guidelines from the White House.

What Biden’s new arms transfer policy means – and what it missed on

What Biden’s new arms transfer policy means – and what it missed on
What Biden’s new arms transfer policy means – and what it missed on

“Although the policy sharpened the focus on human rights in these many ways, it missed a unique opportunity to show its commitment to the defense industrial base at a time where more is being asked of it that any point since World War II,” writes former State official Josh Kirshner.

Under new US weapons sale rules, ‘security sector governance’ is king

Under new US weapons sale rules, ‘security sector governance’ is king
Under new US weapons sale rules, ‘security sector governance’ is king

Security sector governance “is incredibly important because, to me, security sector governance is the overlay for all of these issues,” Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast.

New Conventional Arms Transfer focuses on human rights over economics

New Conventional Arms Transfer focuses on human rights over economics
New Conventional Arms Transfer focuses on human rights over economics

The policy contains “explicit presumptions” that US national security is enhanced when human rights are better respected overseas.

Will Biden’s Conventional Arms Transfer policy be an evolution or a revolution?

Will Biden’s Conventional Arms Transfer policy be an evolution or a revolution?
Will Biden’s Conventional Arms Transfer policy be an evolution or a revolution?

In the coming weeks, the Biden administration is expected to release its newest version of the Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy, which will serve as a clear sign on how the administration will differentiate itself from the Trump administration on arms sales issues. In this op ed Josh Kirshner of Beacon Global Strategies lays out…

UAE Arms Sale Remains In Limbo Pending Biden Review

UAE Arms Sale Remains In Limbo Pending Biden Review
UAE Arms Sale Remains In Limbo Pending Biden Review

“This is well beyond my pay grade now,” said Brig. Gen. Brian Bruckbauer, director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate.

Esper Presses Hard For New Civilian Casualty Policy

Esper Presses Hard For New Civilian Casualty Policy
Esper Presses Hard For New Civilian Casualty Policy

“The US is doing far more than its allies in coming to grips with causing civilian harm,” a human rights NGO representative who has met with Pentagon leaders said. Still, the gap between government estimates and those from groups on the ground is often wide. 

Arms Sales Way Up – But Trump Wants More

Arms Sales Way Up – But Trump Wants More
Arms Sales Way Up – But Trump Wants More

The United States signed off on arms exports worth $192.3 billion over the past year, a full 13 percent increase from the previous year — even as the Trump administration keeps pushing hard to sell more weapons, more quickly, to more allies overseas.

Meet the New U.S. Export Policy, And The Tariffs Complicating Things

Meet the New U.S. Export Policy, And The Tariffs Complicating Things
Meet the New U.S. Export Policy, And The Tariffs Complicating Things

A slate of poorly understood new tariff and sanctions rules are complicating the Trump Administration’s own efforts to boost arms exports, even as sales of American-made weaponry blow past previous highs.

Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales

Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales
Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales

The new rules, which are still a work in progress, will allow for easier export of laser-designating drones, while shipping more and more weapons overseas to cut into Chinese and Russian sales.