White Papers

The countries of the Americas have identified the development and exchange of WHITE PAPER OF
DEFENSE as a useful mechanism for building confidence and security for the promotion of
security in the hemisphere.

Some of its benefits are the following:

• Transparency and Trust: The preparation of a Defence White Paper involves collaboration between
  civilians and military personnel. This transparent process sends a clear message of the States' commitment to
  safeguard the values and interests of citizens.
• Strategic Objectives: Its content can show measurable performance criteria, which
  allows for a clear assessment of defense policies and doctrines.
• Reference for Regional Cooperation: Through the analysis of these documents, countries can
  identify areas of regional cooperation in security and defence.

The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), in fulfilling its purpose of providing the OAS with
its Member States technical, advisory and educational services on issues
related to military and defense affairs in the hemisphere, has a specific task related
with the preparation of studies on national defense doctrine and policies (White Papers).

Minimum requirements:

It is not intended to be reworked every one or two years, but to provide sufficient perspective for
multi-annual budgeting and planning. A minimum organizational platform is required that
consider:

• An interlocutor with the support of the presidential authority that allows coordination
  interministerial in the country, also considering the capacity to convene the different
  political, social and economic actors. This will be the executive counterpart of the IADB.
• The formation of a working group to act as the operational counterpart of the IADB team.
  Ideally, this national group would be made up of people who have networks of influence.
  directly in the main ministries to ensure effective coordination throughout the process.
• The consideration of a methodological advisory team of the IADB, whose mission is to design, implement and
  systematize the work to be done throughout the process.

The stages of elaboration can be summarized as follows:

1. Planning and identification of objectives. Formation of work teams. Definition of
   budgets, logistics and work schedule.
2. Establishment of the committees and beginning of the work of systematizing information through
   a starter workshop. Development of a methodological induction workshop for the national team.
   Programming of thematic workshops and definition of the actors to be invited.
3. Workshop Development.
4. Draft writing and document verification and acceptance process.
5. Final writing of the text.

The opinions of the general public, non-governmental organizations, private companies,
of academic entities, study groups and international partners as well
are important for the purposes of the process, and the Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Defense can take the initiative to involve these groups at different stages
of the preparation of the White Paper.

The Minister of Defense plays a key role in developing the concept and agenda of
defense. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continually consulted, since defense policy must
be compatible with and support the country's foreign policy objectives.

Central agencies responsible for national budget and expenditure (e.g. the Office of the
Privy Council or the Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Treasury,
etc.) to define the resource constraints within which the defense must be carried out
national.

In general, members of Parliament or Congress play an important role in the elaboration
of the White Papers.

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