State Dept 'Fixes' Arms Rules: Saudi Arabia Joins Elite Ally Club
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Rule
Summary
The Department of State fixed some mistakes in recent rules about arms exports, making sure important parts about denying exports and country listings stay clear and correct. They updated the list of major non-NATO allies by adding Saudi Arabia and Peru, and clarified policies for Ethiopia and Somalia. These corrections take effect on September 23, 2026, and affect anyone dealing with international arms trade regulations.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Saudi Arabia and Peru added to MNNA list
The Department added Saudi Arabia and Peru to the list of major non‑NATO allies as part of the ITAR revisions described in the September 18, 2026 rule and corrected on September 23, 2026. This change to the country list is effective September 23, 2026.
University technical-data exemption restored
The rule reinserts an exemption in Sec. 125.4(b)(10) allowing U.S. institutions of higher learning to release unclassified technical data in the U.S. to their bona fide, full-time regular foreign employees only if: (i) the employee's permanent abode is in the United States during employment; (ii) the employee is not a national of a country prohibited under Sec. 126.1; and (iii) the institution gives written notice that the data may not be re-transferred without prior written approval. This correction is effective September 23, 2026.
Clarified exceptions to denial policy
Sec. 126.1(a) was revised to reinsert explicit exceptions to the general policy of denying licenses for exports to proscribed countries. The rule lists three exceptions: transfers pursuant to certain other ITAR sections (e.g., Sec. 123.17, Sec. 125.4(b)(13), Sec. 126.6, Sec. 126.18(e)); transfers by or for the U.S. Government under specified Sec. 126.4 provisions (including an exception for exports to Russia in support of government space cooperation); and transfers when the recipient is a U.S. Government department or agency. This correction is effective September 23, 2026.
Country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia updated
The Department states it updated country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia as part of the September 18, 2026 ITAR revisions and corrected on September 23, 2026. The document does not provide further detail within the correction but records that those country policies were updated effective September 23, 2026.
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