In a world where the terrorist pays no respect to traditional boundaries, a successful strategy for homeland security requires international cooperation. America must pursue a sustained, steadfast, and systematic international agenda to counter the global terrorist threat and improve our homeland security. This agenda lies at the nexus of the National Strategy for Homeland Security and the National Security Strategy of the United States.
Following September 11, the United States began a campaign to engage our partners around the globe in the fight against terrorism. We have made significant progress. We have built international support for action against global terrorism. We have entered into cooperative efforts to improve security against terrorist attacks on the United States. We have, for example, made arrangements with Canada and Mexico to improve the security of our shared land borders. Similarly, we are working with partners around the world to improve the security of international commerce and transportation networks to prevent their exploitation by terrorists. And we have embarked upon joint scientific technological research and development aimed at countering the many dimensions of the terrorist threat.
Our global engagement to secure the homeland intersects with our government's efforts in other areas as well. Consequently, some initiatives will be closely coordinated, and even shared, between the National Strategy for Homeland Security and our other national strategies, especially the National Security Strategy of the United States, the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, and the National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. Oversight of such initiatives-which include international law enforcement and intelligence cooperation and the protection of critical infrastructure networks-will be shared between our government's homeland security and national security structures to reduce seams in our defenses that may be exploited by our enemies.
Major Initiatives
Create "smart borders." The United States is working closely with its neighbors to improve efforts to stop terrorists and their instruments of terror from entering the United States. The United States has entered into "Smart Border" agreements with Mexico and Canada to meet this objective. (See Border and Transportation Security chapter for additional discussion.)
Combat fraudulent travel documents. More than 500 million people cross our borders every year. Verifying that each has a legitimate reason to enter the United States requires international support. The United States is working with the G-8 group of nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and other entities to set improved security standards for travel documents such as passports and visas. The Department of State, working with the Department of Homeland Security, will negotiate new international standards for travel documents by the earliest possible date. The United States will launch a pilot program with select countries to share information about specific incidents of travel document fraud and illegal entry and deportation.
Increase the security of international shipping containers. Sixteen million containers enter our Nation every year. The United States will work with our trade partners and international organizations to identify and screen high-risk containers and develop and use smart and secure containers. (See Border and Transportation Security chapter for additional discussion.)
Intensify international law enforcement cooperation. Since September 11, the U.S. government has worked with individual countries and through multilateral international organizations to improve cooperation on law enforcement action against terrorists. These efforts have focused on freezing the assets of terrorists and affiliated persons and organizations. We have also worked together to prevent terrorist recruitment, transit, and safe haven, and have cooperated with other countries to bring terrorists to justice.
The Department of Justice, in cooperation with the Department of State, will continue to work with its foreign counterparts on law enforcement issues. The FBI headquarters will build closer working relationships with foreign counterparts on counterterrorism matters through its new Flying Squads. (See Domestic Counterterrorism chapter for additional discussion.) The United States will continue to press its G-8 counterparts for implementation of the 25-point Counterterrorism Action Plan approved at the November 2001 joint meeting of the G-8 Lyon Group (International Crime Experts Group) and Roma Group (Counterterrorism Experts Group).
Help foreign nations fight terrorism. The U.S. government provides other countries with specialized training and assistance to help build their capacities to combat terrorism. Some of these programs are military in nature, but many focus on improving the efforts of civilian authorities. They range from seminars in drafting legislation to the provision of equipment for enhancing border security and customs capabilities.
Expand protection of transnational critical infrastructure. The United States will continue to work with both Canada and Mexico to improve physical and cyber security of critical infrastructure that overlaps with both countries. (See Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Key Assets chapter for additional discussion.)
Amplify international cooperation on homeland security science and technology. In addition to our national program to develop and deploy new technologies and new uses of technology against terrorism, the U.S. government will encourage and support complementary international scientific initiatives. For example, the United States will seek to establish cooperative endeavors with Canada and Mexico for cross-border efforts to detect biological weapons attacks; eventually, these programs may be expanded to include other friendly nations. In conjunction with the Department of State and the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security would also work with certain close allies to improve techniques and develop new technologies for detecting hostile intent.
Improve cooperation in response to attacks. The United States will continue to work with other nations to ensure smooth provision of international aid in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. The Department of State, working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and others, will lead these efforts. The United States will expand its exercise and training activities with Canada in 2003 as part of the Smart Border Initiative. It will establish similar activities with Mexico. It will also initiate bilateral and multilateral programs to plan for efficient burden sharing between friendly nations in the case of attack. For example, the United States will work with its NATO allies to outline the organization's role in preventing and responding to terrorist attacks on member states.
Review obligations to international treaties and law. The United States is party to all 12 counterterrorism instruments adopted by the United Nations in recent years. These treaties form an important part of our multilateral counterterrorism strategy. We are actively encouraging all United Nations members to join and fully implement all 12 conventions.
On a bilateral basis, the United States will negotiate and renegotiate, if appropriate, mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) based on U.S. law enforcement priorities that will help advance homeland security. MLATs allow the exchange of evidence in a form usable at trial. MLATs also enable law enforcement to obtain information abroad in connection with the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of offenses in a manner that is more speedy, efficient, and reliable than the traditional judicial letters rogatory process.
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