Joe Biden Releases Memorandum Highlighting Standards For Countries To Receive US Military Aid

American President Joe Biden issued a memorandum drawing out standards that countries receiving military aid from Washington must adhere to. The memorandum does not make new guidelines, but calls for State Department to receive written assurance from nations that they will abide by the current US standards.

The memorandum said the secretary of state must “obtain certain credible and reliable written assurances from foreign governments receiving defense articles”. In a press release to the memorandum, the White House said, “the Secretaries of State and Defense are responsible for ensuring that all transfers of defense articles and defense services … are conducted in a manner consistent with all applicable international and domestic law and policy, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law”.

The move comes amidst the growing tension between America and Israel over the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza Strip. During a speech, the American President called Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza “over the top”. He said, “I’m of the view that the conduct of the response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top”.

However, the official dismissed any suggestion that Israel’s action in Gaza were a motivating factor for the issuing of the new memorandum. A senior administrative official said that White House is not issuing the memorandum because it think that any country or countries are violating the standards. He added that, “If we did, you’d have heard it about long ago – and seen the consequences,” the senior official said”.

The senior official further said that the move was to be transparent with the American public about what the standards are required for the nations to adhere to in order to receive US military aid.