U.S. officials have communicated to European allies their desire for continued purchases of American-made arms, particularly in light of recent European Union initiatives to limit U.S. manufacturers' participation in weapon tenders. This comes as the EU seeks to bolster its own defense industry while potentially restricting the acquisition of specific U.S. arms.
The response from the Trump administration to early foreign policy actions, such as support for Ukraine and relations with Moscow, has left European allies feeling uneasy about the reliability of the United States as a partner.
In mid-March, the European Commission proposed measures aimed at increasing military spending and pooling resources for joint defense projects, anticipating a reduction in U.S. military engagement under President Trump. Some of these proposals could inadvertently reduce opportunities for non-EU companies, including those from the U.S. and the U.K.
During a March 25 meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed to the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia that the U.S. wishes to maintain its role in defense procurements across EU countries. Rubio indicated that any exclusion of U.S. firms from European bids would be perceived negatively by Washington, a sentiment that echoes concerns regarding the proposed EU rules.
A northern European diplomat, not involved in the Baltic meeting, also reported being informed by U.S. officials that exclusion from EU arms procurements would be deemed inappropriate.
Rubio is set to address expectations for EU countries to continue purchasing U.S. weapons during his upcoming visit to Brussels for the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. A senior State Department official stated, “It's a point the secretary has raised and will continue to raise.”
A State Department spokesperson noted that Trump supports European allies' efforts to enhance their defense capabilities but cautioned against creating new barriers that might exclude U.S. companies from European defense initiatives. They emphasized that "Transatlantic defense industrial cooperation makes the Alliance stronger."
The foreign ministries of Latvia and Estonia did not respond to requests for comments, while Lithuania's foreign ministry declined to comment.
U.S. concerns regarding limitations on arms purchases reflect a tension at the core of the Trump administration's Europe policy. Trump has urged European allies to increase their defense spending and assume greater responsibility for their security. Meanwhile, the EU is considering domestic manufacturing to address suggestions from the U.S. president that NATO commitments may not be unequivocal.
The mid-March defense proposal from the European Commission, termed ReArm Europe, includes plans to borrow €150 billion for loans to EU governments for defense spending.
While many EU governments support a more unified approach to defense, the execution of such plans is likely to spark intense debate regarding project management and funding authority.
Although the Commission asserts that non-EU companies can compete for defense funds under the proposed plan, firms outside the bloc would likely encounter numerous practical and administrative hurdles.
The Trump administration has previously promoted U.S. weapons, as demonstrated at this year's Munich Security Conference. Some sources interpret the recent communications from Washington as a continuation of established U.S. policy. However, the emphasis on this issue has grown in recent weeks as the EU has taken firmer steps to redefine its weapons procurement strategy.
“They are upset about the ReArm proposal and that the U.S. is excluded,” commented one senior European source.