The abbreviation "COCOM" stands for "Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls." It is a former international organization established during the Cold War era to coordinate and control the export of strategic goods and technology to countries that pose a security risk.
COCOM was founded in 1949 by the United States and Western European countries, including members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Its primary goal was to prevent the transfer of sensitive military, dual-use, and advanced technology to communist countries and regions, particularly the Soviet Union and its allies.
The organization operated through a system of export controls and licensing requirements that its member countries agreed to enforce. COCOM maintained a list of specific items that were subject to export restrictions, such as weapons, aerospace technology, nuclear materials, and supercomputers.
COCOM's activities included monitoring and regulating the trade of these controlled items to ensure compliance among member nations. It facilitated information sharing, conducted reviews of export license applications, and implemented measures to prevent the illicit proliferation of sensitive technologies.
COCOM's influence waned following the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 1994, it was formally disbanded, and its responsibilities were transferred to the Wassenaar Arrangement, which continues to address similar issues concerning export controls and non-proliferation of strategic goods.
