International Policy
This week, a tripartite agreement was reached between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and customs administrations in Guatemala and Colombia through a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) meant to enhance trade and economic security.
The groundwork for this was laid last year when the... Read More »
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new initiative to help countries prepare the systems and capabilities to manage emerging threats.
The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats Initiative (PRET) will officially launch on April 24-26, 2023, during a global... Read More »
In a collaborative effort, several United States security agencies joined with related authorities in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand last week to launch guidance for technology providers meant to increase security by design and default.
In... Read More »
Enhancements to the Central American Minors (CAM) program would provide alternatives to perilous and irregular border migration, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State officials.
The CAM program enables certain individuals in the United States to request... Read More »
In order to build relationships with those soon to be training in their state, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) and John Boozman (R-AR) went to Singapore last week.
On the heels of a decision to relocate an F-16 squadron to Ebbing Air National Guard base in Arkansas and train Singapore pilots on... Read More »
The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Technologies a $1.2 billion foreign military sales contract to provide Switzerland with the Patriot air defense system.
The contract is in conjunction with the Global Patriot partnership that includes the United States, Switzerland, and 16 other nations.... Read More »
With the introduction of the United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023 last week, a collection of U.S. representatives are seeking to set aside $50 million annually for defense collaboration on emerging technologies between the two countries.
“The United States and Israel face a... Read More »
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Minister of the Interior and Community of Germany Nancy Faeser recently outlined a collaboration addressing security threats facing the countries.
The delegations met in Washington, D.C., to discuss countering the... Read More »
A quick series of legal moves built on one another this week, kicked off by a federal court in the District of Columbia unsealing two indictments against multiple defendants for violations of arms export controls and economic schemes to procure and export military technology to Iran.
The cases... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will reopen enrollment centers at eight Canadian airports to expand enrollment and manage backlogs for the NEXUS pre-screen expedited processing travel program.
NEXUS allows subscribed members to use dedicated... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced a partnership with officials from the Philippines to bolster Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) security.
TSA is joining the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) to host Philippines personnel for a training... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is espousing the benefits of a recently signed Republic of Korea (ROK) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
ROK's Ministry of National Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) joined DHS S&T in signing... Read More »
Officials from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have indicated defense, aerospace, and security company BAE Systems will play a key role in helping Australia acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines.
The trilateral agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the... Read More »
Republicans leading the House Committee on Homeland Security recently introduced several bills to target perceived Chinese influence, funding of Chinese entities, or utilization of Chinese drones.
Following a hearing last week titled, Confronting Threats Posed by the Chinese Communist Party to... Read More »
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches onward, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) sought a new means of hitting the former through its economy, reintroducing the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act (S.548) last week.
ESCAPE seeks to pull North Atlantic... Read More »
As a bipartisan effort, U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) introduced the U.S.-Taiwan Advanced Research Partnership Act last week that would allow new federal coordination and cooperation with Taiwan to research and prepare for cyber threats.
According to the 2023... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) has joined two colleagues in introducing measures requiring the President of the United States to provide Congress with reports on North Korea’s activity.
The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act and the Korean Interdiction and Modernization... Read More »
Efforts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to produce state-sponsored ransomware and have successfully attacked healthcare and public health sector organizations and other critical infrastructure, according to a new advisory.
This Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) was the... Read More »
The United States has joined Australia, India, and Japan in initiating the Quad Cyber Challenge, which seeks to improve cybersecurity across the nations.
"We are inviting Internet users across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to join the Challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber... Read More »
As part of ongoing bi-national efforts, Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents spent Jan. 9-20, 2023, training 13 members of Mexico’s border rescue agency, Grupos Beta, to undertake migrant rescue along the United States-Mexican border.
“It is important that we continue... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) are urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the national security risks of consulting companies contracting with the U.S. government and the Chinese government.
The senators also seek GAO examination of potential national... Read More »
Following up on a group letter from July 2022, United States Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) last week called for Congressional action to block any proposed transfer of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and their components to Turkey.
Pallone and more than 30 House colleagues had urged the Biden administration... Read More »
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is commending House of Representatives colleagues for advancing a measure prohibiting sending Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) products to China.
According to bill provisions, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22)... Read More »
Department of Defense (DoD) and Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials are commending recently signed Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E) and Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) agreements.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japan Minister of Defense... Read More »
Through the largest presidential drawdown authority committed to date, the Biden administration greenlit $2.85 billion in military equipment to benefit the Ukrainian military’s defense against the ongoing Russian invasion, along with $225 million in additional foreign military financing.
"The... Read More »
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal has placed a $102 million order with Oshkosh Defense for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to be delivered to international U.S. allies.
The JLTVs, known for their mobility, protection, reliability, and interoperability as a Light... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and seven colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the Biden administration's efforts to establish a global anti-satellite missile tests moratorium.
“Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space... Read More »
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Academy (NFA) officials are espousing the benefits of the U.S. Arson Investigation Training program in Dubai slated for launch in 2023.
As a means of preparing for the program's formal launch, authorities noted U.S. Fire Administrator Lori... Read More »
Although the United States has largely withdrawn from Iraq in recent years, U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Mike Waltz (R-FL) last week urged the Biden administration to respond to recent Iranian attacks in the country and deter future aggression.
“As Iran continues to sow chaos and... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recommendations to address Chinese nationals potentially transferring technology to foreign entities.
Per the GAO, a third of foreign graduate students studying science, technology, engineering, and... Read More »
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has outlined sanctions against a transnational network procuring technology they maintain supports the Russian military-industrial complex.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) initiated the sanctions in conjunction with the U.S.... Read More »
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) officials are touting a recent gathering of 220 chemical security practitioners from over 70 countries to address combating terrorism, chemical weapons, and explosives use.
INTERPOL hosted its third Global Congress on Chemical Security and... Read More »
In a letter to their Canadian counterparts last week, four U.S. representatives sought to kick off a joint fix for the growing logjam in the NEXUS system, the Trusted Traveler Program for the U.S.-Canadian Border.
That system requires travelers to undergo in-person interviews with agents from... Read More »
Across three cases, the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the District of New Jersey charged 13 individuals with conspiracy, obstruction, and attempts to aid the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in exerting influence in-country.
According to unsealed... Read More »
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said seeks to designate New York's Plattsburgh International Airport and Valley International Airport in Texas as Ports of Entry (POE).
Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Mayra Flores (R-TX) recently introduced the Border Airport Enhancement Act,... Read More »