US & UK sign treaty on defence co-operation

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President Bush have signed a treaty that ends the requirement for much of the US defence equipment and technology exported to the UK to be granted an individual export licence.

The treaty dramatically cuts the red tape around the exchange of goods, services and information in defence. This will make for easier, faster and more in-depth cooperation between both countries.

Signing the treaty achieves a long-standing goal of both governments to remove restrictions on defence trade. It promotes closer co-operation between both industry and the armed and faster sharing of classified information. This will help to keep ahead of the rapidly evolving insurgent threats currently faced by the armed forces of both countries.

There are direct benefits for current military operations as the treaty will speed up the export of Off-The-Shelf (OTS) equipment purchased by the UK as Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). There are also benefits for interoperability between US and UK armed forces with the two countries able to co-operate more closely on equipment.

UK industry will also gain through the improved efficiency of its current transatlantic business and closer and deeper co-operation with US partners. The defence industries in both countries will be able to take advantage of their technical experience to develop and field the most effective military capabilities possible. The treaty also potentially enables British companies to bid more easily on US defence programmes by removing barriers to technology transfer.

Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S):

This is a real breakthrough. This very positive development in UK and US cooperation builds on the progress we made on the JSF programme at the end of last year. In the current security environment, with our forces operating together around the world, it is vital that we do all we can to work together on interoperability and on technology research and innovation. Today's announcement is important for our armed forces and for our defence industries.

Source: UK MOD

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