Trusted Partners: Sharing Technology within the U.S.-UK Security Relationship

CSIS scholars Pierre Chao and Robin Niblett released a working paper on ways to improve the sharing of defense technologies between the United States and the United Kingdom, in the context of their relationship as two of the world’s closest security allies.  Released on the same day as President Bush and Prime Minister Blair announced that they have agreed to allow the UK to have the ability to successfully operate and upgrade the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), a key collaborative defense program between the two countries, the paper argues that the US and UK need to come to agreement on a broader framework for the exchange and transfer of defense technologies between the two countries.  This framework would not be limited to one particular program, but would serve to enable the two sides to work together in a predictable, efficient, and secure environment into the future.