The USA restricted the sale of weapons to Europe

Denmark’s decision to acquire a multi-billion air defense system was the first signal of the changed U.S. approach to selling military equipment in Europe. In recent weeks, American and French sides actively worked on closing the deal when the Pentagon unexpectedly lost interest, reports The Atlantic.

Unpredictable Changes

Contractors following the negotiations could not understand the reasons for such a decision.

“It seemed obvious, but they just weren’t interested,” shared one of the participants in the process.

During the last discussions with the State Department earlier this month, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby confirmed that he does not consider some arms sales abroad to be advisable. Sources from The Atlantic noted that he expressed doubts about selling Denmark Patriot systems, which are critically needed by the U.S. for its own needs.

Restrictions and Consequences

Commenting on the situation, officials said that the Pentagon classified certain types of weapons as “scarce” and began to limit new European requests. Clarifications regarding the duration of these measures and their spread remain unknown.

The situation with Patriot has been discussed for several months. According to sources in the Ministry of Defense, current reserves make up only 25% of the stated needs. Since there are no similar systems in Europe, Patriot has particular value against the backdrop of growing threats.

Impact on Security and Economy

If delays with deals continue, it may cause disagreements between Washington and its allies. The escalation of the threat from Russia requires attention, and the loss of benefits from arms sales will inevitably affect the U.S. defense economy. Losses could amount to billions of dollars, threatening job cuts in the defense sector and reducing research programs.

Last week, Denmark signed a $9.1 billion agreement to acquire air defense systems from a French-Italian consortium, marking a record volume of military purchases in the country’s history.

History of Arms Sales

Military equipment has always been used as a tool of U.S. foreign policy. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, arms sales were directed to friendly countries to strengthen the defensive power of allies. Examples of successful deliveries can be cited in the situation in Taiwan and Israel, where American weapons serve as the basis for protection.

Now, priorities are changing. The “America First” policy, implemented by the Trump administration, seems to emphasize domestic interests, raising concerns about the security of European regions.

Relations with Allies

A Pentagon representative drew criticism by calling speculations about Colby’s secret decisions “absurd.” This problem manifests in blocked orders, even when it comes to support measures for Ukraine, receiving broad assistance from Western countries.

Some European countries have provided their best weapons to Kyiv, expecting returns from American manufacturers. However, possible delays create additional difficulties when, against the backdrop of growing threats from Russia, the need for military means increases.

Strategic Changes

Now many are striving to readjust their relations with other countries amid growing concerns in Europe. Experts say that in a negative outcome, the situation may lead to a redirection of interests towards other regions if expectations in arms deliveries continue to increase.

Analysts emphasize that the current conflict situation requires building new strategies to maintain stability both in Europe and on other important security fronts. Issues related to arms supplies remain acute and shape the projection of future international cooperation.