State Department amends ITAR, adds Saudi Arabia and Peru as major non-NATO allies

The State Department published a final rule in the Federal Register on September 18, 2026, amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The rule took effect the same day it was published.

The document is titled "International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Clarifying Policies of Denial, Updating the Major Non-NATO Ally List, and Minor Corrections." It was issued as a final rule, and no public comment period is listed.

According to the rule, the department is amending the ITAR "to clarify certain policy-of-denial provisions, update country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia, add Saudi Arabia and Peru to the list of major non-NATO allies, and make other miscellaneous corrections."

In plain terms, the rule covers four areas:

• Clarifications to certain policy-of-denial provisions in the ITAR.
• Updated country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia.
• The addition of Saudi Arabia and Peru to the list of major non-NATO allies.
• Other miscellaneous corrections.

The full document is available on the Federal Register.

What is not yet known: the published summary does not describe the specific wording changes to the policy-of-denial provisions or the details of the updated country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia. It also does not say whether or how the changes affect firearms exporters, manufacturers or other ITAR registrants. Because the rule is already in effect and lists no comment period, the summary does not indicate any further rulemaking steps.