19 May 2020

Foreign Military Sales: Strategic Interests and the Supply Chain

By BARRY ROSENBERG

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program has become arguably the nation’s preeminent tool for building and solidifying relationships with foreign nations. FMS facilitates training and interoperability with coalition partners, helping to undergird America’s strategic priorities while influencing the actions of allied nation states. Foreign Military Sales are a huge benefit for allied nations, as the U.S. government offers favorable financial terms and access to some of the most advanced and effective military technology in the world.

Navigating the FMS process and its companion Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) program can be difficult to understand. There are many benefits potential partners may not know about. In this Breaking Defense E-Brief we explore the role of FMS/DCS, how it works, the role that Congress plays, how the DoD and State Department can help partner nations develop and sustain capabilities, and the role of U.S. companies and the American subsidiaries of foreign companies.

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