Building confidence in regions of tension

Confidence-building measures build trust between countries. Among the most important of such measures are ones promoting openness about military budgets, plans, and policies - something Western defense officials take for granted but which are entirely foreign to the traditions of many countries. Openness, after all, is an unusual concept in defense, for the art of war involves secrecy and surprise. The art of peace, however, involves exactly the opposite - openness and trust. Through openness about security matters, nations gain insights into each other's strategic intentions, reducing pressure to engage in arms competition and chances for miscalculation.