Each day, hundreds of flights depart foreign countries en route to the United States. So while securing U.S. aviation security is critically important, equally important for TSA is working with international partners to secure the global transportation network.

TSA Protects Passengers Traveling to the U.S. by:

• Inspecting air carrier operations to the U.S.
• Assessing security of airports overseas
• Flying Air Marshal missions
• Ensuring foreign airport compliance with TSA security requirements
• Advising foreign governments on transportation security
• Training overseas security personnel
• Ensuring implementation of international security standards
• Reviewing threat mitigation strategies for foreign airports
• Working with non-U.S. air carriers to achieve regulatory compliance
• Assisting foreign governments to achieve sustainable security capacity

To carry out TSA's mission internationally, TSA has twenty-one TSA Representatives (TSARs) and more than 50 TSA inspectors responsible for coordinating and conducting security assessments at more than 300 foreign airports and repair stations in more than 100 different countries. TSARs serve as transportation security liaisons to these host governments in addition to the local U.S. Embassy. TSA inspectors perform onsite security assessments that focus on personnel and equipment preparedness. Through their efforts, TSA has successfully vetted all airports with direct flights into the United States.

TSARs and TSA inspectors work closely with their international partners to share best practices for air cargo screening, employee security procedures, security checkpoints, checked baggage screening and behavior detection. TSA and our global partners continuously share cutting-edge explosive detection technology that advances security through the detection of dangerous materials. These technologies, which can detect explosive materials in multiple forms, are specifically designed to make security effective and to facilitate the travel of passengers.

TSA has developed strong working partnerships with various agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of State, the International Group of Eight (G8), the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the North American Aviation Trilateral, and the Quadrilateral Working Group. In addition to working within these multilateral groups, TSA has developed strong bilateral partnerships with many countries in South America, Central America, Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Through collaborative efforts with international partners, TSA has been successful in harmonizing screening measures (such as the 3-1-1 liquid rule) and other security practices overseas in an effort to meet both international and U.S. security standards. Given the increasing interconnectivity of the transportation network, TSA recognizes the value in learning new approaches from our international partners and looks forward to expanding these efforts over time.