Part II Commentaries to Typical Sofa Rules, 28 The ‘Joint Commission’ Liaison Mechanism

Subject(s):

Military assistance — Military matters — Peace keeping

This chapter discusses a solution for coordination problems developed by the US in conjunction with the individual Sending States in whose territory the US has been invited to send its forces in peacetime. Although each individual case has its differences due to different sovereigns, different times of development, and different sizes or missions of the forces involved, there are nonetheless many conceptual similarities which transcend these differences and which may recommend themselves as a guide. The core similarity is the concept of a single overarching binational body charged with overseeing the implementation of the status-of-forces agreement (SOFA) and facilitating communication and cooperation between the cognizant authorities of the two sovereigns. This chapter discusses the general attributes of the ‘Joint Commission’ liaison mechanism in particular. It explains the purpose of the mechanism, its structure, its operation and authority, and the administration of the Joint Commission structure.