scope:

Purpose. This instruction provides information to implement and supplement reference a. Additionally, this instruction provides only procedural guidance; substantive authority to negotiate or conclude an international agreement must be derived from the US Constitution or federal law.

Applicability. This instruction applies to the Joint Staff, combatant commands, and Defense agencies reporting to the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (hereafter referred to as "the Chairman"). These organizations will use this instruction to negotiate and conclude agreements for which approval authority has been delegated to the Chairman by reference a. Those Defense agencies and Services negotiating and concluding international agreements within the geographic area of responsibility of any of the combatant commands will coordinate such agreement with the cognizant combatant commander in accordance with paragraph 6.2.1 of reference a. Relationships between commanders of combatant commands and international commands and organizations are governed by reference b.