Press Guide

Security Assistance Monitor (SAM) is a leading source for data and analysis on U.S. military and police aid, training, and arms sales. Our interactive databases and staff are regularly sought after for the most comprehensive and up-to-date data on U.S. security assistance around the world and for our insights on related trends and policies in U.S. military aid and arms sales.

What Can You Learn on SAM’s Database

SAM’s three online databases allow media professionals to answer a range of questions: Who are the countries and areas that receive the most U.S. military and economic aid? How have U.S.-security relationships changed over the years with these countries? Is the United States providing the right type of U.S. military aid to meet its objectives? How is the United States implementing its export control laws and policies? Below, please see “How You Can Track U.S. Military and Police Aid: A Guide for Media Professionals” for detailed information on how to use our military aid database.

A Quick Who We Are and What We Do

  • Security Assistance Monitor is a program of the Center for International Policy that tracks and analyzes U.S. security sector assistance and arms sales programs worldwide. By informing policymakers, media, scholars, NGOs, and the public (in the United States and abroad) about trends and issues related to U.S. foreign security assistance and arms transfers, we seek to enhance transparency and promote greater oversight of U.S. military and police aid, arms sales, and training.
  • Our interactive databases compile all publicly available data on U.S. foreign security assistance programs and arms sales worldwide from 2000 to the present. Collected from a wide range of government documents, the database provides detailed numbers on U.S. arms sales, military and police aid, and training programs. Users can search these numbers by country, region, program, and assistance type.
  • While our database is global, our research and analysis provide more in-depth insight on U.S. security policy in Africa, Central Eurasia, Latin America, and the Caribbean and the Middle East, which can be found in our blog, fact sheets, and publications. We also organize roundtables and briefings to promote a more nuanced understanding and encourage debate about key U.S. foreign security assistance issues.
  • In our extensive resource database of news, policy statements, legislation and events, users can find what lawmakers and experts are saying about U.S. global security policy, stay current with public events, hearings, official travel and reporting deadlines, and read all relevant security news for each of our focus regions