“Increased military assistance as a con-
comitant to the Nixon Doctrine seems inescap-
able to me,” a top Pentagon official told Armed
Forces Journal in November, 1970.1 The events
of the past two years have amply confirmed the accuracy of this prediction: U.S. military as-
sistance expenditures have risen steadily
since President Nixon took office, and will
continue to do so if Administration policies
are backed by Congress. Total U.S. military aid
for Fiscal Years 1971-73 came to $15,453 mil-
lion, a 33 percent increase over the $11,604
million spent in the preceding three years. 2
These increases are neceessary, according to
Administration spokesmen, if the United States
is to withdraw its ground forces from Asia
while still assuring the survival of our client
states. State Department officials have argued
that certain key U.S. allies face a difficult
“adjustment period” occasioned by the with-
drawal of U.S. troops, and that additional grants of U.S. military assistance funds and
equipment are necessary if these countries
are not to succumb to revolution or internal
collapse. Thus Secretary of State William P.
Rogers told Congress in 1971 that the aid pro-
gram “is an essential element of the Nixon
Doctrine’s emphasis on the primary responsi-
bility of each nation to provide for its own
security,” and that additional aid funds are
needed to provide our allies with “a foundation
of stability during the adjustment period.” 3
Rogers’ avowal of the need for a “founda-
tion of stability during the adjustment period”
can be read as an endorsement of steps taken by
several regimes–including those of Marcos in
the Philippines and Park in South Korea–to
suppress dissent and insurgency under the cover
of martial law. Certainly the distribution of
military aid suggests that we reward those
states which “maintain stability” through the
institutionalization of military rule: the most
favored recipients of military aid under Nixon
are Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Spain and of course Vietnam.
Recent Pentagon data on military assistance
spending confirm another trend noted in NACLA’s
Latin America Report: the shift from direct
grants of military hardware to credit-assisted
sales. As indicated in the January 1972 Report,
Third World countries are increasingly being
encourage to “arm now and pay later” under the
favorable credit terms of the Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) program. FMS sales jumped from $614
million in Fiscal 1968-70 to $1,922 in 1971-73,
an increase of 213 percent. Pentagon cash sales
grew over the same period from $3 billion to
$5.8 billion, a 94 percent increase. 4 While most
FMS credits are going to the oil-rich nations
of the Middle East, other Third World areas are
not being ignored. U.S arms sales to Latin
America, for instance, rose from $14 million in
Fiscal 1970 to $144 million in 1972–an increase
of 930 percent! In order to further expand sales
to the Third World, the Administration is push-
ing for the repeal of Congressional restraints
on the export of “sophisticated” weapons to
underdeveloped areas, and to raise the ceiling
on arms transfers to Latin America.
Under President Nixon’s foreign aid reorgan-
ization plan, the Agency for International De-
velopment’s Supporting Assistance program has
been renamed “Security Supporting Assistance”
and its military orientation given greater em-
phasis.5 Security Supporting Assistance, ac- cording to USAID Director John A. Hannah, “pro-
vides essential economic help to certain less
developed countries threatened by internal in-
surrection or external attack.” Such aid is
necessary, he argued, to assure the survival
of shaky pro-U.S. regimes: “If these countries
are going to assume greater responsibility for
their own defense, they must be able to carry
the economic burden of expanded armed forces
and deal, at the same time, with the pressing
social and economic problems typical of de-
veloping countries.”o The principal recipients
of Security Supporting Assistance funds in the
1972-73 period are: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand,
Israel and South Vietnam.
Increased military assistance spending and
greater Congressional vigilance of Pentagon aid
programs have had a dramatic impact on the mili-
tary assistance tables published by NACLA. When
we first tabulated such data in the Nov. 1970
Newsletter, the worldwide total for 1946-68 came
to $36 billion; now, with the data for 1969-73
added and additional military aid categories
included, the total for 1946-73 comes to a
staggering $83 billion!
1. Armed Forces Journal, Nov. 2, 1970, p. 22.
2. All aid data from: U.S. Agency for Interna-
tional Development, U.S. Overseas Loans
and Grants (1972); and, U.S. Senate, Com.
on Appropriations, Foreign Assistance Ap-
propriations for FY 1973, Hearings, 1972,
pp. 1049-76.
3. U.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations,
Foreign Assistance Appropriations for FY
1972, 1971, p. 1284.
4. U.S. Department of Defense, Military Assis-
tance and Foreign Military Sales Facts
(1972), p. 14.
5. John N. Irwin, “New Approaches to Interna-
tional Security Assistance,” Department of
State Bulletin, Feb. 22, 1971, pp. 221-7.
6. Foreign Assistance Appropriations 72, 1208.- 25 –
U.S. Military Assistance Programs
Cumulative Totals By Country, 1946-73
Includes aid from the following programs:
I. MAP Grant Aid – Direct grants of military equipment and services (including training) under the
Military Assistance Program (MAP).
II. FMS. Eximbank Credits – Credits furnished by the U.S. Department of Defense under the Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) program and by the Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) for the purchase of U.S. arms.
III. MASF, MAAGs & Naval Loans – Includes support of our allies and mercenaries in Southeast Asia (South Korea, South Vietnam, Laos and Thailand) under the regular Department of Defense appropriations
(Military Assistance, Service-Funded, or MASF), the costs of maintaing U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Groups (MAAGs) in recipient countries, and the values of naval vessels loaned by the
U.S. for indefinite periods. Includes “Greek-Turkish Aid” of Truman Doctrine era.
IV. Excess Defense Articles – Direct grants of military equipment from stockpiles of “excess” U.S.
materiel (such equipment is valued at one-third acquisition cost for military aid purposes).
V. Food for Peace Funds – Local currencies generated under the “Food for Peace” (Public Law 480) pro-
gram that are allotted to defense expenditures.
VI. Security Supporting Assistance – Funds provided by the U.S. Agency for International Devolopment for
support of pro-U.S. governments threatened by insurgency or external attack.
[By Fiscal Year – Dollars in millions]
MILITARY ASSISTANCE BY CATEGORY, 1946 – 1971a
III. VI.
I. II. MASF, IV. V. Security
MAP FMS, MAAGs, Excess Food for Support- Total Total TOTAL
Region & Grant Eximbank & Naval Defense Peace ing As- Aid, Aid, AID,
Country Aid Credits Loans Articles Funds sistance 1946-71 1 9 7 2- 7 3 b 1946-73
WORLDWIDE,
Total 35,701.9 4,545.9 13,571.1 1,515.4 1,703.1 14,548.4 71,585.8 10.934.6 82,520.4
,= – – – –
EAST ASIA,
Total 11,085.8 1,176.3 11,272.6 667.4 1,477.3 9,658.2 35,337.6 8,485.4 43,823.0
Australia – 859.7 – – – – 859.7 179.0 1,038.7
Burma 76.7 – – 4.1 – 9.1 89.9 – 89.9
Cambodia 278.5 – – 11.5 6.8 291.7 588.5 573.0 1,161.5
China (Taiwan) 2,577.3 168.5 232.6 266.7 106.8 727.4 4,079.3 218.7 4,298.0
Indochinac 709.6 – – 7.3 – 823.6 1,540.5 – 1,540.5
Indonesia 97.8 – 16.5 4.1 30.5 63.1 212.0 59.3 271.3
Japan 855.0 34.8 175.0 58.3 – – 1,123.1 30.7 1,153.8
Korea, So. 3,396.1 15.0 1,599.7 184.2 617.2 2,333.7 8,145.9 901.8 9,047.7
Laos 330.7 – 391.5 16.9 – 627.9 1,367.0 723.8 2,090.8
Malaysia 1.2 17.8 – – – – 19.0 1.0 20.0
New Zealand – 61.5 5.8 – – – 67.3 15.0 82.3
Philippines 449.9 – 181.8 23.6 9.4 145.7 810.4 49.0 859.4
Singapore – 19.0 – – – – 19.0 0.6 19.6
Thailand 588.1 – 449.7 22.5 – 393.3 1,453.6 210.2 1,663.8
Vietnam, So. 1,476.3 – 8,220.0 68.2 706.6 4,238.9 14,710.0 5,493.6 20,203.6
Region 248.6 – – – – 3.8 252.4 29.7 282.1- 26 –
1946-71 1946-71
I. MAP II. FMS, III. IV. V. VI. Sup- Total Total TOTAL
Region & Grant Eximbank MASF, Excess Food for portg As- Aid, Aid, AID,
Country Aid Credits ships Articles Peace distance 1946-71 1972-73 1946-73
NEAR EAST & SO.
ASIA, Total 6,427.4 1,839.1 670.6 377.0 212.0 2,227.8 11,753.9 1,907.9 13,661.8
Afghanistan 4.2 – – – – 25.5 29.7 0.5 30.2
Ceylon 3.1 0.3 – – – 7.2 10.6 – 10.6
Greece 1,586.0 38.0 441.9 134.7 11.3 283.9 2,495.8 181.4 2,677.2
India 96.6 27.7 – 7.3 – – 131.6 1.2 132.8
Iran 833.3 624.0 – 20.6 10.5 205.3 1,693.7 359.5 2,053.2
Iraq 46.7 – – 1.1 – – 47.8 – 47.8
Israel # # – i – – # # #
Jordan 83.3 # – 4.5 – 214.8 302.6* # 302.6*
Kuwait – – – – – – – 86.0 86.0
Lebanon 14.1 # – – – – 14.1 – 14.1*
Nepal 1.9 – – @ – – 1.9 – 1.9
Pakistan 672.2 10.0 8.4 8.9 79.3 589.9 1,368.7 1.2 1,369.9
Saudi Arabia 35.7 # – 0.6 – – 36.3* # 36.3*
Turkey 3,029.9 – 220.3 199.3 110.9 823.6 4,384.0 285.6 4,669.6
UAR/Egypt # – – – 28.9 28.9* – 28.9*
Yemen Arab Rep. – – – – – 25.1 25.1 – 25.1
CENTO/Region** 20.4 1,139.1 – – – 23.6 1,183.1 992.5 2,175.6
LATIN AMERICA,
Total 790.1 302.8 250.2 66.7 – 673.2 2,083.0 197.9 2,280.9
Argentina 44.4 64.6 43.2 1.4 – 19.9 173.5 33.2 206.7
Bolivia 25.3 – – 1.7 – 162.4 189.4 15.2 204.6
Brazil 221.8 81.9 75.4 27.7 – 75.5 482.3 39.5 521.8
Chile 94.4 25.1 30.0 8.0 – – 157.5 14.5 172.0
Colombia 94.0 5.0 19.8 6.0 – 31.5 156.3 19.1 175.4
Costa Rica 1.8 – 0.1 @ – – 1.9 0.2 2.1
Cuba (1946-60) 10.6 – – 1.8 – – 12.4 – 12.4
Dominican Rep. 26.8 – 1.5 1.1 – 209.2 238.6 4.0 242.6
Ecuador 43.1 0.7 16.8 3.5 – 21.9 86.0 1.8 87.8
El Salvador 6.9 – – 0.3 – – 7.2 1.8 9.0
Guatemala 19.6 4.5 0.3 1.4 – 33.5 59.3 6.4 65.7
Guyana – – – – – 9.6 9.6 – 9.6
Haitid 3.2 – 1.1 0.1 – 47.7 52.1 – 52.1- 27 –
1946-71 1946-71
I. MAP II. FMS, III. IV. V. VI. Sup- Total Total TOTAL
Region 6 Grant Eximbank MASF Excess Food for portg As- Aid, Aid, AID,
Country Aid Credits Ships Articles Peace sistance 1946-71 1972-73 1946-73
Honduras 8.6 – – 0.6 – 1.6 10.8 1.9 12.7
Mexico 1.9 4.3 10.2 @ – 1.2 17.6 2.9 20.5
Nicaragua 13.6 – – 0.5 – – 14.1 2.6 16.7
Panama 4.5 – – 0.1 – 27.0 31.6 1.8 33.4
Paraguay 10.5 0.2 3.0 1.6 – – 15.3 3.1 18.4
Peru 88.8 19.5 33.0 6.8 – 1.7 149.8 7.0 156.8
Trinidad & Tob. – – – – – 29.5 29.5 – 29.5
Uruguay 43.4 4.4 3.0 4.0 – – 54.8 8.3 63.1
Venezuela 10.2 92.6 12.8 0.1 – – 115.7 28.7 144.4
Region/Other 16.7 – – – – 1.0 17.7 5.9 23.6
AFRICA, Total 294.6 63.8 6.0 18.2 3.9 471.1 857.6 88.9 946.5
Cameroon 0.2 – – 0.2 – 2.6 3.0 – 3.0
Ethiopia 163.4 – 6.0 8.2 – 3.3 180.9 28.4 209.3
Ghana 0.2 – – – – – 0.2 0.1 0.3
Guinea 0.9 – – 0.1 – 22.4 23.4 – 23.4
Ivory Coast 0.1 – – – – 0.3 0.4 – 0.4
Liberia 7.7 1.1 – 0.1 – – 8.9 3.3 12.2
Libya 15.5 – – 0.7 – 21.8 38.0 0.4 38.4
Mali 2.8 – – 0.1 – 3.5 6.4 0.2 6.6
Morocco 37.9 44.7 – 4.0 – 71.1 157.7 # 157.7*
Nigeria 1.4 0.3 – – – 70.4 72.1 3.7 75.8
Senegal 2.8 – – @ – 0.1 2.9 @ 2.9
Sudan 0.7 1.5 – – – – 2.2 – 2.2
Tunisia 34.5 3.0 – 3.1 – 11.6 52.2 # 52.2*
Zaire (Congo) 26.0 13.2 – 1.7 3.9 252.0 296.8 8.9 305.7
Other/Region** 0.5 – – – – 12.0 12.5 43.9 56.4
EUROPE & CANADA
Total 15,911.4 1,163.9 341.9 279.0 9.9 1,316.7 19,022.8 136.9 19,159.7
Austria 97.5 47.1 – 2.7 – – 147.3 0.2 147.5
Belgium & Lux. 1,245.8 7.8 – 7.2 – – 1,260.8 0.7 1,261.5
Canada – – 13.1 – – – 13.1 – 13.1
Denmarke 617.9 – 1.4 7.0 – – 626.3 0.8 627.1
Francef 4,153.1 80.4 25.3 96.6 – 85.0 4,440.4 0.6 4,441.0- 28 –
1946-1971 1946-1971
I. MAP II. FMS, III. IV. V. VI. Sup- Total Total TOTAL
Region & Grant Eximbank MASF, Excess Food for portg As- Aid, Aid, AID,
Country Aid Credits Ships Articles Peace sistance 1946-71 1972-73 1946-73
Germany, W.f 900.8 50.7 0.2 – 110.8 1,062.5 2.6 1,065.1
Iceland – – – – – 25.5 25.5 – 25.5
Italyf 2,290.2 129.4 32.6 71.5 – – 2,523.7 23.8 2,547.5
Netherlandsf 1,217.0 2.2 21.3 14.7 – – 1,255.2 0.6 1,255.8
Norwaye 893.8 – 5.9 14.7 – – 914.4 0.6 915.0
Portugal 320.7 – 8.4 7.9 – – 337.0 8.9 345.9
Spain 625.8 62.3 70.6 20.6 9.9 483.5 1,272.7 68.3 1,341.0
United Kingdomf 1,034.5 809.9 – 24.3 – 187.2 2,055.9 20.0 2,075.9
Yugoslaviaf 693.9 1.5 – 9.2 – 424.7 1,129.3 – 1,129.3
Region* 1,820.4 23.3 117.1 2.4 – – 1,963.2 9.8 1,973.0
NON-REGIONAL,
Total 1,192.6 1,029.8 107.1 201.4 2,530.9 117.6 2,648.5
*Excludes classified funds.
**Includes amounts for classified countries.
#Classified figure.
@Less than $50,000.
aSource: U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants, July 1, 1945 – June 30,
1971 (Washington, D.C., 1972). bSource: U.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations, Foreign Assistance and Related Agencies Appropriations
for Fiscal Year 1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1972), 92d Cong., 2d Sess., 1049-76.
cConstitutes aid to French forces during Independence War of 1946-1954.
dNo MAP grants since 1963.
“eNo HAP grants since 1967. fNo MAP grants since 1965.
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