Regulatory Friendly Fire: How ITAR Undermines the Alliance It Was Built to Protect

The article argues that ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) regulations, originally designed to maintain U.S. defense superiority and strengthen alliances, now hinder defense trade cooperation with partner nations. As the U.S. accounts for over 40% of global arms transfers but cannot meet domestic demand, the inflexible regulatory framework undermines modern statecraft and alliance relationships.