US Assistant Secretary of State Landau criticised Europeans for favouring the European arms industry over the American one. Is this a joke?

[Julie07]

First of all, this is false, since Europeans buy American weapons on a large scale, rather than European weapons.

However, since the US believes that Europeans should protect themselves, I see no reason why we should continue to favour American weapons.

[OneViewpoint]

European allies have cut way back on arms deals with US defense contractors since our current TACO criminal fake president has demonstrated that the USA is no longer a dependable economic partner or military ally and we have shown that we will break treaties and agreements at our convenience.

European countries would have to be idiots to place their trust in the USA at this point. Landau is just being a loyal toady and mouthpiece for the US military industrial complex that has bribed and bullied our government officials for decades, just as Dwight D. Eisenhower warned back in 1962.

Europe has increased their defense spending alright. But they are investing in their own industry and systems rather than buying from a former ally turned extortionist. That is the only smart move for them. And it raises the USA's defense costs because we will no longer have 3rd party sales helping to defray our costs of development and production. More genius from the moron in the White House.

[abc3643]

Europeans DO make a good number of weapons systems. You just may not realize it because a lot of the companies are also in the commercial industry.

Furthermore, a lot of these companies also have US offices and build defense products in the USA as well. For instance, BAE is a big one. I've been to a BAE plant in New York state and many of my coworkers/former coworkers either worked for or have worked for BAE... and that almost included me.

[purplepoppy]

It's actually part of the NATO contract that we have to buy a given amount of weapons from the US. It's the main reason America is in NATO.

Given we can't rely on America staying in NATO or even know whos side they'll be on should Putin invade i think its wise to buy local. The fact we've got to get spare parts and repairs done in the US is ridiculous

[FreyaRed]

There is funding and preferential credit program for EU arms purchase. It excludes US arms.
Of course US is pissed about that. It's not only that they don't get the money but EU gets less blackmailable by US and EU weapon industry turns to be a competitor on weapon market

[Spencer10]

The USA wants its cake and eat it too, No surprise there. But the EU, Britain and Canada have no choice but to buy non American weapon systems. Its a strategic necessity. The world cannot rely on the USA anymore as a dependable allies so its imperative to purchase non American products as much as possible. For example why would Canada buy American F35s that are controlled by a potential adversary ( USA) in stead of a European friend ( Sweden) that is not threatening Canada sovereignty? The choice seems clear.

[lilBigPotato]

You can't take anything serious anymore that comes out of the mouth of US officials.

They don't care about anyone else anymore, only their own wallets. Doesn't matter if allies or not. The EU is an economic superpower, it makes me sad that they give in to those bullies and don't fight back. Everyone should know that giving in to a bully doesn't make them go away, but instead they will only ask for more

[Curmudgeon]

To be fair, the USA has "built under license" (which is a backhand way of purchasing) European weaponry that it found very good, from Belgian FN and FAL assault rifles to British Canberra and Harrier jets.

Still I think Mr. Landau "put his foot in his mouth" on this issue and should have not said anything.

[DryGermanGuy]

First they try to blackmail Ukraine into accepting some 1939-style "peace" agreement and when that fails, they want to decide how the Europeans spend their money? Way to go.

[Julie07]

In reality, the Americans have nothing to worry about, just as we have not retaliated against American customs duties. We will, of course, continue to buy mainly American weapons.

[Julie07]

I was thinking that for the first time France has Germany on its side. But it's also the first time that the Germans have underinvested so much in their army, which is really bad luck for us 🤣

[DryGermanGuy]

British, French and German weapons manufac#sturers deliver products every bit as good as the Americans, the only thing we lack is a (quickly) scalable production. But in some aspects, like ammunition, this is currently changing.

I like to think that Germany has been on France's side ever since de Gaulle shook Adenauer's hand and we founded the ECSC together in 1951!

[goaded]

Nobody complained about Germany under-investing in their army for decades, and for very good reasons. Now the threat is external, it makes sense to ramp things up again.

[Pohjolan]

Two weeks ago Americans delivered a ultimatum (bluff) which ingcluded no longer selling weapons to Europe if they would be delivered to Ukraine and now they are complaining that they are not buying enough weapons...

In a few weeks its going to be blocking selling US parts for euro arms industry or something.

[loveslongnails]

My guess is he's envious of everyone else in Scump's cabinet getting their 15 minutes of fame for being totally stupid, so he had to open his mouth and go for some of his own.

[KostasKouvalis]

I'm not surprised. Americans have a superiority complex and think their products are superior and no one can survive without them

[Julie07]

American weaponry is rightly considered to be the most technologically advanced.

However, you cannot tell Europeans that we must fend for ourselves and hope that we continue to favour American industry.

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah.
It's like the African countries who want to break free of France, but then threathen to send their crimimals to France, if France doesn't send them money

[Julie07]

The situation is even worse than that for Africa. They accuse us of still being colonialists because we have soldiers in their country. But they are the ones who called us to save them from the terrorists who had settled on their territory.

[KostasKouvalis]

EXACTLY. If I was Macron I would say, fuck them and make them fend for themselves. And if they send us their criminals, they'll end up in a morgue.

[Curmudgeon]

@Julie07 I actually give France a lot of credit for policing much of Africa and preventing much more bloodshed in Francophone Africa than would otherwise happen. Just as it can be said that Latin America is "the USA Backyard", it could be said that North and West Africa are "the French Backyard".

[KostasKouvalis]

@Curmudgeon The US made EVERYTHING their backyard😂

[Curmudgeon]

@KostasKouvalis Well, lately, yah, ha ha, but going all the way back to the Monroe Doctrine, the USA has always been touchy about Latin America. For instance, Cuba is actually much less of a menace to the USA than, say, North Korea is. But the Norks are 9,000 miles from CONUS (continental USA). while Cuba is only 90 miles away, so it gets much more opprobrium for that reason alone.

[Julie07]

@Curmudgeon

Exactly, Trump is returning to traditional American politics, focusing on the American continent and trade.

[Curmudgeon]

@Julie07 Trump is pulling back a bit, and in my honest opinion, rightfully so. The USA is just plain overextended. It's not the 1980's or the 1950's anymore. Putin may be an adversary, but he's NOT Stalin or Khrushchev or Brezhnev.

[Julie07]

@Curmudgeon

Indeed, US resources are now scarcer than they used to be. The US has strategic choices to make.

However, I believe that abandoning NATO would be a mistake. The US should continue to provide some form of nuclear protection, and Europeans should provide conventional deterrence.

The US should focus its resources on peaceful information.

[Curmudgeon]

@julie07 I agree, and I honestly think Donald Trump does too, his blustering and rash manner of speaking notwithstanding.

[Julie07]

@Curmudgeon

You are one of the few Trump supporters I respect here because you are not fanatical lol

[Curmudgeon]

@julie07 He really IS like the proverbial Dog with the bark much more than the bite. Is he oafish and crass? Totally. But as we say in America, "He may be a son-of-a-bitch, but he's MY son-of-a-bitch!"

[RavVid]

Curious because the US told us we should make more of our own weapons.

[snermcger]

They should protect themselves, from each other, with our weapons.

[AngryCarl2]

Yes, everything the Trump administration does is a joke.

[RedInnocent69]

Yeah, nearly everything the administration has done has been a joke

[beefcakebradybatson]

He's a Trump appointee. OF COURSE it's a joke.

[slatyb]

Everything about the Trump kakistocracy is a joke.

[AviatorTom]

Politicians don't joke. 😎

[Staximus]

Who is this idiot

[Sal_Monella]

Why does this matter?

[ABC1x1x]

Europeans are a joke. Full stop.