DFOP0018094 Protecting U.S. Critical Energy Investments Through C-UAS and UAS Surveillance Capabilities in Iraq

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces a competitive funding opportunity to improve law enforcement’s ability to engage productively with individuals repatriated from northeast Syria and Iraq in their countries of origin. This one-year program aims to help law enforcement prevent negative interactions with returnees, reduce local tensions including possible stigmatization, and lower the risk of terrorist radicalization and recidivism. The program will also support more effective monitoring of returnee populations and the establishment of early warning mechanisms for those who may be vulnerable to radicalization or reengagement in terrorist activity. The target audience for this program includes law enforcement agencies and officials in countries receiving repatriated individuals from Syria and Iraq.

The Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to strengthen Iraq’s ability to investigate and respond to terrorist attacks and incursions along the Iraq-Syria border during a critical period of regional transition. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by reducing threats to U.S. diplomatic and military facilities, safeguarding American commercial operations, and preventing terrorist attacks that endanger Americans abroad. The proliferation of Iran-aligned militia groups (IAMGs) and continued presence of ISIS in the region have created a fragile security environment with elevated risks of border exploitation for weapons, explosives, and human smuggling. Porous borders enable IAMGs and other terrorist organizations to move personnel, material, and illicit goods that directly threaten U.S. personnel, American commercial interests, and regional stability affecting U.S. security. Recent events illustrate the ongoing threat from IAMGs, who attacked numerous U.S. personnel and facilities in Erbil and Baghdad since February 28. They have historically conducted rocket and drone attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities, military installations, and commercial facilities. By supporting Iraq’s border security capabilities, this program reduces terrorist operational capacity that threatens U.S. interests. This program should be designed to reduce Iraq’s long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities to independently respond to attacks and dismantle illicit transit networks. Consistent with the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS)’s principle of “burden-sharing and burden-shifting,” this program should include a train-the-trainer component to enable Iraqi civilian forces to establish an Iraqi-owned training capability, reducing long-term U.S. resource commitments.

The Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to protect American economic and security interests by supporting Pakistan’s law enforcement counterterrorism abilities in Balochistan Province. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by safeguarding U.S. commercial access to critical minerals essential to technological advancement, defense manufacturing, and economic competitiveness. Balochistan Province contains significant deposits of critical minerals essential to American national security and economic prosperity. The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) emphasizes “economic security is fundamental to national security” and calls for securing “independent and reliable access to the goods we need to defend ourselves and preserve our way of life.” Terrorist organizations operating in Balochistan, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-K, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), pose persistent threats to regional stability that directly threaten American access to these strategic resources. This program should be designed to reduce Pakistan’s long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Pakistani law enforcement capabilities to independently identify, disrupt, and deter terrorist networks. Through protection of critical infrastructure technical assistance and potential complementary equipment provision, the program should enable Pakistan to assume greater responsibility for counterterrorism operations in Balochistan without ongoing U.S. support. All activities must emphasize Pakistani ownership, institutional capability, and graduation to self-sufficiency.