Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 08/2014

It's Time to Ratify the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties

Jonathan Ruemelin, Damon Wilson, Jeff Lightfoot

July 2010

Atlantic Council

Abstract

During David Cameron’s first visit to Washington as Britain’s Prime Minister, a new Atlantic Council issue brief calls for the White House and Senate to act to ratify the U.S.-UK and U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties. To affirm the U.S.-UK special relationship, and to advance timely military, economic and diplomatic interests, Cameron’s visit is the ideal occasion for Washington to move on a treaty signed more than three years ago.

“We now have the best chance since the treaties’ submission to Congress to move towards ratification. The goal should be to vote the treaties out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before the August recess and obtain the full Senate’s advice and consent in October.”

This brief follows on The Hill’s publication of “Help Our Friends Fight with Us," an op-ed by the Atlantic Council International Security Program authors, and an event held at the Council in June entitled "US-UK Special Relationship for the 21st Century."