1d ago

US officials object to European push to buy weapons locally

www.reuters.com

reuters.com

Summary

U.S. officials have warned European allies against excluding American defense firms from EU weapons tenders, amid new EU proposals to boost domestic arms production.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized U.S. concerns in recent meetings, citing potential negative repercussions if U.S. companies are sidelined.

The EU's €150 billion ReArm Europe plan aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers as Trump signals reduced U.S. NATO engagement.

Washington sees the move as conflicting with its goal of selling arms abroad. Tensions highlight diverging transatlantic defense priorities under Trump's leadership.

79 comments

Nah, as an American, fuck the US government and US arms dealers. They don't get to fuck over our allies and demand profit out of them in the war machine they keep moving. Especially with them joining the axis of evil and aiding Israel's genocide of Palestine.

Fucking don't buy shit from us.

The amount of mixed signals coming from this administration is insane.
Like you want to tariff us but if we fight back you say nah fam not like that.
America should be shunned out of society and can make deals with Russia and North Korea.
It’s about time people saw America for the bullies they are and sever ties with them.
Cunts.
- It is logical if you accept that america has a fascist government. That is how fascism works, put pressure on other countries, bully them and if they do not comply you can point to them for politcal gain. After a while of "warning" and pretending that the other countries are enemies (all so your population gets riled up) you can start wars.
- The amount of mixed signals coming from this administration is insane.
  No, seems pretty straightforward. It's simply "we'll tariff-whip you into submission and make you buy our shit"
  
  AKA "fuck around"

The EU should put massive tariffs on American exports, and double those on weapons.

US arms companies have been fighting basic laws like gun licenses for years. The results are thousands of dead children. Fuck them companies.

Careful EU. Remember what the US did in Iraq when Saddam was going to switch from the dollar to the Euro.
- Imagine getting nuked by Macron for trying to invade europe

"We don't need other countries!"
"Hey, you other countries can't do that, we need you!"

Get fucked military industrial complex. Reap what you sow.

Did they not just ask Europeans to up our defense spending? Getting a lot of mixed messages here.. Fools.
- They meant they wanted Europe to buy a bunch of overpriced American fighter jets

Uh, what the fuck did these geniuses think would happen? Repeatedly kick every one of our allies in the balls, and....then what? Things continue just status quo in every other aspect?
- A bully never expects to be bullied right back
- Probably one of the top 10 Trump moments so far from the Oval Office “ we are going to make less capable aircraft for our allies. In case they aren’t our allies anymore in the future you never know.”
  
  right from putins mouth, it has alot buzzwords used by putin.
  
  He literally turns everything that he touches into shit. He is like the shit version of king Midas.
- Foreign countries do not just roll over to Donald Trump like American institutions do it seems
- To be fair. That's what's basically been happening over the past 50 years. Just look at how we let Russia walk all over us. So it kinda makes sense for them to expect the same outcome.
  Their only problem is that since Europe is basically on its own now, Europe has to choose for european produce. We can deal with one shitty dictatorship trying to push us around. But now its two shitty dictatorships so yeah that kinda changes things around (finally).
- European here. We never were your allied, america's soft power have been imposed on us. Screw you
- That is exactly what these numb nut dipshits expected.

There are no patent limitations on manufacturing M16s. It's a solid, proven, affordable design. Europe is a manufacturing powerhouse, with plenty of superb weapons manufacturers who don't even need to use Stoner's design. They risk absolutely nothing.
- The argument against the M16 right now is that an intermediate caliber rifle can't do anything against modern body armor (Edit: and to the other poster, this also applies to the HK416). Works if you're shooting poor brown people, but not anyone with a well equipped military. The US itself is in the middle of replacing the M16 for this reason.
  When the XM7 was being developed, there was a chance the whole thing was a mistake if a near-peer war never happened. Now the likelihood of a near-peer war is looking more likely.
- Why would Europe manufacture M16s? HK416s are superior, in that most NATO armies, including the US has adopted it.
  
  Because it's free. H&K is expensive. I imagine they still hold parents on the HK416 and might prevent other manufacturers from making them. No such restrictions exist for the M16 or AR-15 anymore. While the HK416 may well be superior, there's nothing wrong with the AR that hasn't been addressed for years. And it might send a bit of a message if Europe starts building a bunch of them.

LOL.
Until U.S. foreign policy is no longer dictated by the Kremlin, the U.S. can get fucked.
- "Warned against excluding"
  Wait until the US feels threatened by the EU and will need to invade to guarantee security for its citizens.
  Literally just russia 2.0
- As an American citizen. I support this message.
  
  it's so weird being like "hey foreign invaders. i'll help y'all out. i'm down for bing a canadian province. or maybe the netherlands, france, or spain can reclaim their claims? i'm also down to arm native americans. i'm very flexible. i'm just not okay with this"
- Why would it change after that? They've clearly demonstrated they intend to just stab their allies in the back the second a bit of cash gets wiggled in front of their snouts.

Put “DEI” requirements in the billing requirements
- DEI exclusion surcharge.

It’s a national security threat for the EU to buy American arms. All it takes is for a crazy US president to cut their supply when they’re most in need like the US did to Ukraine and they’re in trouble. The EU is right to exclude US arms. Trumps actions have consequences.

"Warned"? What are you going to do, invade Europe for not buying our weapons? These chucklefucks legit think they own the world.
- This is the same US government that's currently complaining it's too difficult to do business in Quebec (a province of a country the US is threatening to invade) because native French speakers insist on speaking French. The US is demanding they use English.
  
  I’ve also missed this. The narcissism of American leaders has no bounds.
  
  I must have missed this one, very classy and up to par for the admin.
- I would tell them that any company without solid, written, DEI policies need not apply.

"isn't there someone you forgot to ask" vibes

Dear Mr. Rubio
Please gently fornicate yourself.
I don’t want a singe euro-cent of my taxes spent in the American industry.
You reap what you sow.

If America can go America first, then so should the EU.
- No no, you can't do that. Only they can do that!

The art of the deal.
- More like The Fart of the Deal. Pee-ew, this shit stinks every time.
- 🤣😂😅

Sounds to me like the US government has been thoroughly infiltrated by corporations only interested in their own profit. How dare other countries not pay billions to American corporations??
But we knew this already.

Huh, it's almost like EU powers have seen the problem with having an unpredictable outsider control thier means of defense.
Imagine trying to preflight your fancy F35 and seeing the Tesla, "please wait for update" screen.
- That'll probably be on the plane he named after himself, the F-47. Assuming Boeing doesn't just take the taxpayer money for four years and then drop it as soon as the next president gets elected.
  
  You already know that’s the plan for Boeing. Baby baby one more chance to build and scrap a worthless prototype that cost billions

Samantha Bee had a prescient segment (not that it took much observation to get there) about Trump's spreading taint back in 2017.
- Phrasing

Free market, guys.

Hey USA you know how the saying goes: "Be careful what you ask for, you might get it."
Now Europe is arming itself like you asked. So kindly fuck off and be happy, that you got what you asked for.

Another "illegal boycott" to them, I'm sure.

boo. fuckin. hoo.
you did it to yourselves. now. could you please stop deporting my neighbors? between the Ukrainians who got deported from my town and the rich white conservatives, i woulda rather deported the rich white conservatives
- Deport maga to Russia where they already have the government they want!

Whiny man babies. “I’m gonna punch you in the gut just cause I’m a dick. Why aren’t you still buying my weapons???”

Oh so that was trumps play, he wanted us to specifically buy THEIR weapons to arm ourselves because that helps THEIR economy once again
- Of course. That's all their "increase your military spending" whining was about. There are valid reasons to increase military spending but their whining isn't one.

Surprised Pikachu face moment.
What were they expecting? They've clearly showed to the world how quickly they can turn against their allies over nothing. Nobody will want to rely on them for their defense.

Womp Womp
- I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home, they’re not much bigger than 2 meters.
  
  My god, you shoot small animals for fun? That's the first indicator of a serial killer, you freak!