§ 1051. Multilateral, bilateral, or regional cooperation programs: payment of personnel expenses
(a)
The Secretary of Defense may pay the travel, subsistence, and similar personal expenses of defense personnel of developing countries in connection with the attendance of such personnel at a multilateral, bilateral, or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting if the Secretary determines that the attendance of such personnel at such conference, seminar, or similar meeting is in the national security interests of the United States.
(b)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid on behalf of personnel from a developing country only in connection with travel to, from, and within the area of responsibility of the unified combatant command (as such term is defined in section
161
(c) of this title) in which the multilateral, bilateral, or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting for which expenses are authorized is located or in connection with travel to Canada or Mexico.
(2)
In a case in which the headquarters of a unified combatant command is located within the United States, expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid in connection with travel of personnel to the United States to attend a multilateral, bilateral, or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting.
(3)
In the case of defense personnel of a developing country that is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and that is participating in the Partnership for Peace program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid in connection with travel of personnel to the territory of any of the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace program or the territory of any NATO member country.
(4)
Expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may not, in the case of any individual, exceed the amount that would be paid under chapter
7 of title
37 to a member of the armed forces of the United States (of a comparable grade) for authorized travel of a similar nature.
(c)
In addition to the expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may pay such other expenses in connection with any such conference, seminar, or similar meeting as the Secretary considers in the national security interests of the United States.
(d)
The authority to pay expenses under this section is in addition to the authority to pay certain expenses and compensation of officers and students of Latin American countries under section
1050 of this title.
(e)
Funds available to carry out this section shall be available, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, for programs and activities under this section that begin in a fiscal year and end in the following fiscal year.