What was the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls?

Introduction The Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom) was established by the Western Bloc in the first five years after the end of World War II, during the Cold War, to put an embargo on Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon) countries. CoCom ceased to function on 31 March 1994, and the then-current control… Read More

What is the Wassenaar Arrangement (1996)?

Introduction The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) with 42 participating states including many former Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon or Warsaw Pact) countries established in 1996. The Wassenaar Arrangement was established to contribute to regional and international security and… Read More

What is a Combat Support Agency?

Introduction Combat support agency (CSA) is a designation by the United States Department of Defence (DoD) of those defence agencies that provide department-level and tactical support to the US military during combat operations. Background The designation was first outlined by the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defence Reorganisation Act of 1986, with subsequent additions based on the… Read More