Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 5710.3
Overview of the C-175 Process
1. Determine Whether Agreement is Desirable, Necessary, and Legally Authorized. Coast
Guard commands or headquarters offices interested in pursuing an agreement or arrangement
with a foreign entity shall consult via their chain of command with Commandant (G-CI) and
Commandant (G-LMI) before opening discussions with a foreign government, government
agency, or other foreign entity regarding any prospective agreements or arrangements.
(a) Consult with Commandant (G-CI). Consultation with Commandant (G-CI), before
pursuing the C-175 process, ensures that the Coast Guard has engaged the relevant U.S.
government stakeholders and determined whether a cooperative activity envisioned by an
international agreement with a foreign government entity is desirable, or necessary for
the performance of authorized Coast Guard missions, and is consistent with the Coast
Guard's overall international engagement strategy. Once a proposed agreement or
arrangement is deemed desirable or necessary, Commandant (G-CI) shall refer the matter
to Commandant (G-LMI) for drafting assistance and interagency clearance.
(b) Commandant (G-LMI) Initiates Formal Interagency Clearance. Commandant (G-LMI),
in consultation with G-CI, shall manage the formal interagency clearance process for all
proposed international agreements.2 Accordingly, Commandant (G-LMI) shall receive
from the servicing legal office a determination of whether the Coast Guard possesses the
requisite legal authority to conduct the activities envisioned by the agreement or
arrangement. Commandant (G-LMI) will review the legal bases for undertaking the
proposed agreement/arrangement, determine whether DoS has previously authorized the
Coast Guard to negotiate and/or conclude the type of agreement contemplated,3 and
provide assistance to the drafter.
2. Prepare and Evaluate a Draft Agreement. Following the initial consultation process
described above, Commandant (G-LMI) shall assist Coast Guard commands (in consultation
with their servicing legal offices) or headquarters offices in preparing a draft of the proposed
agreement or arrangement. Draft agreements shall comply with references (c) - (f) and
2
The formal interagency clearance process occurs once the entire C-175 package has been compiled. Commandant G-LMI does
not initiate nor discourage informal interagency discussions or coordination to aid in the development of a C-175 package.
3
If the Coast Guard is contemplating a series of agreements of the same general type (to carry out or give effect to provisions of
law or policy decisions), then it may be appropriate to seek a blanket authorization, rather than separate authorizations for each
agreement. Even if the Coast Guard possesses a blanket C-175 authorization, DoS (L/T) and other interested bureaus must clear
the text of any particular agreement before signature. Nevertheless, agreements that fall within the scope of a pre-existing
blanket C-175 authorization typically have reduced processing clearance periods. DoS generally considers extensions of and
substantive amendments to existing international agreements the equivalent of new international agreements; therefore, they
require a separate C-175 authorization. This requirement applies unless the original C-175 explicitly contemplated and approved
such subsequent extensions or revisions.
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