Will Trump cut military ties with Europe: Expert weighs in
Photo: Donald Trump, 47th President of the United States of America (Getty Images)
The defense industry of NATO countries is interdependent. At the same time, Europe is a major market for American arms manufacturers, Taras Yemchura, Head of the Defense Policy Sector at the BRDO Office for Effective Regulation, stated in a comment to RBC-Ukraine for the article "Sleeping giant: Europe's lagging defense industry and what it means for Ukraine."
According to Yemchura, Europe’s defense industry is largely self-sufficient, but the degree of independence varies from country to country.
Historically, France has sought strategic autonomy and aimed to independently produce a full range of weaponry. However, such an approach is extremely costly. Meanwhile, most European countries choose military-technical cooperation, as many types of weaponry can only be developed through joint efforts. For example, the US engaged more than 20 countries in the F-35 fighter jet project.
"Therefore, the defense industries of NATO countries, including the US, form an interdependent ecosystem. In my opinion, this cooperation will continue," the expert stated.
Yemchura added that Europe is also a key market for American arms manufacturers. Between 2019 and 2023, about 55% of Europe’s total arms imports came from the United States, primarily consisting of combat aircraft, helicopters, and air defense systems.
Increasing NATO defense spending
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged NATO allies to increase their defense spending. Moreover, last year, he threatened to "encourage" Russia to "do whatever it wants" to Alliance members who fail to meet their financial obligations to the military-political bloc.
In January, the Republican called on NATO members to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP.
