The European Union is also on a collision course. According to , his government is warning of harsh retaliation should Brussels pursue protectionist policies in its defense industry.
The Pentagon, in an official letter to the European Commission, made it clear that it strongly opposes any attempt to limit the access of American arms companies to the European market. All this at a time when Europe is in a phase of rapid rearmament.
The Pentagon’s ultimatum
The US government described the EU’s “exclusionary policies” as a “wrong course of action”.
“The United States strongly opposes any change to the directive that would limit the ability of US industry to participate in the national defense procurement of EU member states,” the statement said.
According to Washington, it is unacceptable to exclude American companies from Europe. Especially since the biggest European defense giants still benefit from free access to the US market.
What will be the effects of retaliation?
In case the EU adopts the “Buy European” clause, the US warns of sanctions on three fronts. The first is a review of all existing derogations from “Buy American” laws for European companies.
A second measure would be to limit access to Pentagon contracts by companies such as Italy’s Leonardo and Sweden’s Saab. Finally, any future exemption will only be considered in the light of NATO interoperability.
The Paradox of US Defense Strategy
The Trump administration’s stance highlights an internal contradiction. While Washington demands that European allies bear the brunt of their own defense, it also demands that this be done through American weapons programs.
Today, almost two-thirds (66%) of EU arms imports come from the US, with Europe dependent on systems such as F-35 fighter jets, HIMARS artillery systems and the Patriot.
The European response and the SAFE programme
The European Commission, under pressure from geopolitical instability and the threat from Russia, is seeking to strengthen its autonomy. Already, programs such as SAFE (€150 billion) and loans to Ukraine stipulate that 65% of the value of the equipment be produced within Europe.
The update of the public procurement directive, expected in the third quarter of the year, will be the crucial test for relations between the two sides. Washington claims such a move would violate the US-EU trade deal signed last summer, in which Brussels pledged to increase purchases of US military hardware.
NATO unity is at stake
This tension threatens to weaken the cohesion of the North Atlantic Alliance. The Pentagon warns that limiting the freedom of national capitals in armament choices will jeopardize NATO’s capability goals.
As the EU prepares for the possibility of a less predictable partnership with Washington, the dilemma remains: Strategic autonomy or maintaining the US defense umbrella?
