Our Mission
The Bureau of the Political-Military Affairs (PM) builds enduring security partnerships to advance U.S. national security objectives. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is the Department of State's principal link to the Department of Defense. The PM Bureau provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.
“Together, We Deliver:” State Department’s Foreign Policy Advisors Support COVID-19 Response at Department of Defense’s U.S. Transportation Command
Learn More “Together, We Deliver:” State Department’s Foreign Policy Advisors Support COVID-19 Response at Department of Defense’s U.S. Transportation CommandThe Latest
Update on U.S. Security Cooperation and Defense Trade
Assistant Secretary R. Clarke Cooper discusses the latest developments in U.S. security assistance, defense trade, peacekeeping capacity building and humanitarian mine action. This includes recent historic sales to the Indo-Pacific region, changes to the export policy for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), continued support for allies and partners responding to the coronavirus pandemic, and additional regulatory relief for U.S. industry to help them adapt to remote work.
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Policy Issues
- Implementing the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy
- Export Policy for Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Proposed Rules for Oversight of Firearms Exports
Implementing the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy
In line with the U.S. National Security Strategy, the Secretary of State has submitted the Implementation Plan requested as part of the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy (NSPM-10). These documents lay out a whole-of-government strategy to better align our conventional arms transfers with our national security and economic interests.
Learn More About U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy Implementing the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer PolicyExport Policy for Unmanned Aerial Systems
New policy promotes U.S. values and international standards, while also ensuring that U.S. industry has fair and competitive access to the global marketplace.
Learn More About the Unmanned Aerial Systems Export Policy Export Policy for Unmanned Aerial SystemsProposed Rules for Oversight of Firearms Exports
The proposed rules are part of an ongoing effort to modernize the U.S. export control regulations to create a simpler, more robust system that eases industry compliance, improves enforceability, and better protects America’s most sensitive technologies.
Learn More About the Rules for Oversight of Firearms Exports Proposal Proposed Rules for Oversight of Firearms ExportsOffices of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
- Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
- Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
- Office of Global Programs and Initiatives
- Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers
- Office of Security Assistance
- Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements
- Office of State-Defense Integration
- Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement