BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH ALLIES.

SEC. 236. [10 U.S.C. 2431 note] BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH ALLIES. It is in the interest of the United States to develop its own missile defense capabilities in a manner that will permit the United States to complement the missile defense capabilities developed and deployed by its allies and possible coalition partners. Therefore, the Congress urges the President— (1) to pursue high-level discussions with allies of the United States and selected other states on the means and methods by which the parties on a bilateral basis can cooperate in the development, deployment, and operation of ballistic missile defenses; (2) to take the initiative within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to develop consensus in the Alliance for a timely deployment of effective ballistic missile defenses by the Alliance; and (3) in the interim, to seek agreement with allies of the United States and selected other states on steps the parties should take, consistent with their national interests, to reduce the risks posed by the threat of limited ballistic missile attacks, such steps to include— (A) the sharing of early warning information derived from sensors deployed by the United States and other states; (B) the exchange on a reciprocal basis of technical data and technology to support both joint development programs and the sale and purchase of missile defense systems and components; and (C) operational level planning to exploit current missile defense capabilities and to help define future requirements.