In March, in a meeting with his Colombian counterpart, Iván Duque, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, announced his intention to designate the country as a main non-NATO ally, which it supposes a series of economic and military privileges.
(Read: For which coalition did President Iván Duque vote?).
Two months later, on Monday, May 23, Biden signed a memorandum officially declaring Colombia a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States (MNNA), a category reserved for few countries in the world.
But then, what does it mean to be declared an extra-NATO ally and what is it for? Here we tell you.
WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES THIS APPOINTMENT HAVE?
– Advantages in the areas of “defense trade and security cooperation“.
– The beneficiary nation can receive loans of material, supplies and equipment for cooperative research and developmentamong others.
– The designated country can be a priority recipient of the surplus of US defense materiel and you may be allowed to buy depleted uranium ammunition.
– Agreements can be reached with Washington to receive military training under a number of conditions, i.e., “the rules of conduct that must be respected by members of a military force“.
Nevertheless, the designated country may also serve as a storage location for US war stockpiles.
(See also: Russian forces fire missiles at Ukraine military base).
The designation as a main non-NATO (extra-NATO) ally for Colombia comes at a critical moment on the international scene, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the incipient rapprochement between Washington and Caracas, which has worried Bogotá.
WHO IS GRANTED THIS DESIGNATION?
According to the State Department, this designation “is a powerful symbol” of the close relationship the US shares with certain countries and shows “deep respect” to friendship with other nations.
Once the president announces his intention to designate a country, You have 30 days to formally inform the US Congress.
Presidents Iván Duque and Joe Biden at the White House.
PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC
DOES THE APPOINTMENT CARRY ANY KIND OF OBLIGATION?
This designation does not entail the same obligations as those of NATO member countries, so the beneficiary nations do not have to comply with Article 5 of the Atlantic Alliance on collective defense.
(See: Russia and Ukraine negotiate under suspicion of Chinese aid to Moscow).
COLLABORATION IN DEFENSE
Apart from participating in the cooperative projects of the United States Department of Defense, such as anti-terrorism programs, or accessing US war material, you can obtain loans of equipment and materials for research. In addition, it gives Colombia the power to store US military elements that are part of its war reserve.
WHICH COUNTRIES ARE CURRENTLY MAJOR NON-NATO ALLIES OF THE US?
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Tunisia have achieved that status so far.
Biden recently announced the appointment of Qatar. Taiwan is also treated by the US as a major non-NATO ally country, although it has not been formally designated.
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