c) To identify, discuss and strive for a common understanding of national defence and security issues at both the political and the military level; d) To develop and enhance, as appropriate, the exchange of information between the participants; e) To improve our situational awareness in the defence and security domain, particularly in relation to new and emerging threats such as maritime, trafficking, cyber security; To put in place standing arrangements for desk level bilaterals between officials in the UK Ministry of Defence and the Department of Defence; To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Participants’ defence and security policy through informing and consulting bilaterally and by addressing it together in international forums and organisations when feasible and mutually beneficial; To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Participants’ armed forces: To further enhance interoperability and deployability and improve the capability to act jointly in all areas ranging from international peacekeeping and crisis management operations; To strive to optimise the use of their defence resources and improve cost­ efficiency; To achieve technological benefits and efficiencies, sharing knowledge where possible; To promote security and defence research collaboration in relation to capability developments. J) g) h) i) j) k) l) SECTION 4 FIELDS OF CO-OPERATION As resources allow, the Participants will endeavour to enhance their co­ operation in the following areas; i. ii. iii. Sharing of experiences in reform of defence services. Defence and security policy development - to engage in regular staff exchanges and meetings, between the respective Defence Ministries and Armed Forces, including staff placements, in order to provide greater insight and understanding for the respective participants on how policy issues are addressed at a national level; Exercises, training and Military education - to expand on our current bilateral arrangements regarding the provision of training and military education to our respective Armed Forces, through the identification of mutually supporting training and exchange programmes. This could include training in the areas of; Counter Improvised Explosive Devices, UN