The Congress of the United States reaffirms the policy of the United States to achieve international peace and security through the United Nations so that armed force shall not be used except for individual or collective self-defense. The Congress finds that the efforts of the United States and other friendly countries to promote peace and security continue to require measures of support based upon the principle of effective self-help and mutual aid. It is the purpose of subchapter II of this chapter to authorize measures in the common defense against internal and external aggression, including the furnishing of military assistance, upon request, to friendly countries and international organizations. In furnishing such military assistance, it remains the policy of the United States to continue to exert maximum efforts to achieve universal control of weapons of mass destruction and universal regulation and reduction of armaments, including armed forces, under adequate safeguards to protect complying countries against violation and evasion.
The Congress recognizes that the peace of the world and the security of the United States are endangered so long as hostile countries continue by threat of military action, by the use of economic pressure, and by internal subversion, or other means to attempt to bring under their domination peoples now free and independent and continue to deny the rights of freedom and self-government to peoples and countries once free but now subject to such domination.
It is the sense of the Congress that an important contribution toward peace would be made by the establishment under the Organization of American States of an international military force.
In enacting this legislation, it is therefore the intention of the Congress to promote the peace of the world and the foreign policy, security, and general welfare of the United States by fostering an improved climate of political independence and individual liberty, improving the ability of friendly countries and international organizations to deter or, if necessary, defeat aggression, facilitating arrangements for individual and collective security, assisting friendly countries to maintain internal security, and creating an environment of security and stability in the developing friendly countries essential to their more rapid social, economic, and political progress. The Congress urges that all other countries able to contribute join in a common undertaking to meet the goals stated in subchapter II of this chapter.
It is the sense of the Congress that in the administration of subchapter II of this chapter priority shall be given to the needs of those countries in danger of becoming victims of aggression or in which the internal security is threatened by internal subversion inspired or supported by hostile countries.
Finally, the Congress reaffirms its full support of the progress of the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization toward increased cooperation in political, military, and economic affairs. In particular, the Congress welcomes the steps which have been taken to promote multilateral programs of coordinated procurement, research, development, and production of defense articles and urges that such programs be expanded to the fullest extent possible to further the defense of the North Atlantic Area.
References in Text
This legislation, referred to in fourth paragraph, means Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, as amended, known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.
References to Subchapter II Deemed To Exclude Certain Parts of Subchapter II
References to subchapter II of this chapter are deemed to exclude parts IV (§2346 et seq.), VI (§2348 et seq.), and VIII (§2349aa et seq.) of subchapter II, and references to subchapter I of this chapter are deemed to include such parts. See section 202(b) of Pub. L. 92–226, set out as a note under section 2346 of this title, and sections 2348c and 2349aa–5 of this title.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 501 of Pub. L. 87–195, provided that part II of Pub. L. 87–195 [subchapter II of this chapter] should be cited as the "International Peace and Security Act of 1961", prior to repeal by Pub. L. 88–205, pt. II, §201(b), Dec. 16, 1963, 77 Stat. 384.
Amendments
1993—Pub. L. 103–199, §705(1)(A), in second par., substituted "hostile countries" for "international communism and the countries it controls".
Pub. L. 103–199, §705(1)(B), in fourth par., struck out "Communist or Communist-supported" after "if necessary, defeat".
Pub. L. 103–199, §705(1)(C), in fifth par., substituted "aggression or in which the internal security is threatened by internal subversion inspired or supported by hostile countries." for "active Communist or Communist-supported aggression or those countries in which the internal security is threatened by Communist-inspired or Communist-supported internal subversion."
1967—Pub. L. 90–137 inserted par. to indicate that priority shall be given in the use of the funds available to defend against Communist aggression or Communist-inspired internal subversion.
Transfer of Proscribed Weapons to Persons or Entities in the West Bank and Gaza
Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title VI, §699, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1418, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
[Functions of President under section 699 of Pub. L. 107–228, set out above, delegated to Secretary of State by Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 30, 2009, 74 F.R. 22637.]
[For definition of "appropriate congressional committees" as used in section 699 of Pub. L. 107–228, set out above, see section 3 of Pub. L. 107–228, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.]
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