I think most will find that many countries have tightened up the flying rules just a bit with regard to pilot qualifications...no, not necessarily flight hours, but specific type ratings.
The FAA have now for several years been issuing second-in-command type ratings for when crews operate outside of the USA, in those aircraft that require specific type ratings to be issued, by other countries.
Large US airlines have, of course been doing this for a very long time, for their crews that operate overseas, but those type ratings previously issued were for a full command rating, not just SIC.