WE
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
We live in a "global" community with new challenges and
opportunities to strengthen relationships with current friends
and allies and establish new ones. Among many challenges we face
as a global community, the maritime security of the littoral regions
and throughout the global commons that connects us is of compelling
concern. The new tri-service maritime strategy, “A Cooperative
Strategy for 21st Century Seapower,” in the very first
sentence underscores what “globalization” means for the United
States:
"The security, prosperity, and vital interests of the United States
are increasingly coupled to those of other nations."
Security Cooperation is a critical aspect of protecting U.S.
interests and is an overriding goal of the Navy International Programs
Office. While today’s Navy IPO organization was not established
until 1989, the U.S. government and maritime services have a
strong history of supporting the goals and objectives of friends and
allies to build and maintain their defenses against common
adversaries. The Lend-Lease Act, passed by Congress in 1941, laid
the foundation for today’s security cooperation programs. Our
programs continue to provide allies with access to U.S. defense
industry partners and the means to obtain military defense articles,
services, logistic support and training. Our cooperative programs
leverage national research, development and manufacturing
capabilities in areas of mutual benefit. The U.S. State
Department manages defense Security Cooperation efforts as part of U.S.
foreign policy, but the goals embodied in today’s programs are largely
the same as they were in 1941: enhancing interoperability and
strength through security assistance and cooperation with America’s
international partners.
