In February, President Joe Biden issued National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20, or “National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability for Transferred Defense Articles and Services”) to the U.S. Department of State. “Obtain reliable and reliable information.” A written assurance from a foreign government receiving (U.S.) defense articles and, where appropriate, defense services, of compliance with U.S. and international law. NSM-20 also requires the Departments of State and Defense to report to Congress within 90 days on the extent to which such partners are complying with their assurances.
Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered to Congress the State Department’s overdue NSM-20 report on guarantees for Israel and other countries. Just Security has obtained a non-confidential version of the report. This report is available here.
Read Just Security’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here. This is a developing story and will be subject to further analysis.
Image: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), (left) Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. (D-MA), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Minority Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), and Edward Markey. Sen. (D-MA) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) celebrate new policy requiring recipients of foreign military aid to comply with international humanitarian law in Washington, DC on February 9, 2024. Senator Mazie Hirono (Democratic Party, HI) speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Filed under:
Antony Blinken, Biden Administration, Civilian Casualties (CIVCAS), Civilian Harm, Congress, Congressional Oversight, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State, Foreign Aid/Foreign Aid, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel-Hamas War, Law war, Leahy Act, military, President Biden, security assistance, US military, use of force, weapons
