ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationObama · D Quiet signal

Presidential Determination

Eligibility of the Gulf Cooperation Council To Receive Defense Articles and Defense Services Under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act

President Obama determined that providing defense articles and services to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strengthens U.S. security and promotes world peace, making the GCC eligible under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and Arms Export Control Act. The Secretary of State was directed to transmit this determination and justification to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 78163

Impact dates

  1. Federal Register publication arranged

Key directives

  • Find that furnishing defense articles and services to GCC strengthens U.S. security and promotes world peace
  • Authorize and direct Secretary of State to transmit determination and memorandum of justification to Congress
  • Arrange for publication of determination in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Determination takes effect upon signing
  • Secretary of State authorized to transmit to Congress

Near term (90d)

  • Federal Register publication arranged

Long term

  • Ongoing eligibility for GCC to receive U.S. defense articles and services

Risks & tensions

  • Document filed in Federal Register 7 days after signing (12-23-13), suggesting routine procedural handling
  • Broad 'strengthen security and promote world peace' justification provides minimal substantive detail for congressional oversight
  • GCC treated as collective entity rather than individual member states, which may obscure country-specific human rights or security concerns
Presidential Determination: Eligibility of the Gulf Cooperation Council To Receive Defense Articles and Defense Services Under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act · Executive Orders