Counterterrorism
A report released today by the Center for International Policy’s Security Assistance Monitor finds that two-thirds of the recipients of U.S. counterterrorism aid pose serious corruption risks. The report indicates that these risks are due to corrupt practicies such as favortisim and nepotism, bribery, theft of defense resources, and drug, arms, oil, or human smuggling. These practices can undermine U.S. counterterrorism efforts by weakening U.S. partner military capabilities and motivation and by aiding financing and recruitment by violent extremist groups.
The United States has encountered serious challenges in building the capacity of foreign military and security forces to combat terrorist groups from corruption. In countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Nigeria, and Yemen, corruption was at the root of why counterterrorism efforts failed or stalled and why U.S. weapons and training were diverted or not used at all. But, where will the United States faces similar risks in the future, and how can the United States better mitigate these risks? Please join the below speakers to help answers these tough questions.
The Trump Administration is continuing an unprecedented increase in U.S. foreign aid to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to address terrorist groups threats through the Defense and State Departments, according to a fact sheet released today by Security Assistance Monitor. The fact sheet highlights key new data on the Pentagon’s main global counterterrorism aid program (Section 1206/333).
As the United States approaches the 15th anniversary of its invasion of Iraq and continues to provide significant levels of aid to the security forces, this timeline shows some of the key events that shaped the U.S.-Iraqi security aid relationship during this period.