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0 pointspokstad1y ago0 comments

Well he’s been very vocal about NATO countries increasing their defense contributions. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the US needs to sell all the weapons.

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ncruces1y ago

And all everybody speaks of is expenditure, not capabilities. That alone should tell you what the goal is.

Except it might backfire if Europe understandably decides it must buy European.

martin_a1y ago

Yes, seems like things are already starting to take off:

- Shares of Starlink’s European rival Eutelsat have tripled. CEO says it can do the job in Ukraine. [1]

- Boost for German economy: Armaments sector picks up former car industry employees [2]

[1] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/shares-of-starlinks-europe... [2] (German only) https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Ruestungsbranche-sammelt-ehem...

alienthrowaway1y ago

> Boost for German economy: Armaments sector picks up former car industry employees

Why do I hear strains of "Spring time for Germany" playing in my head?

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mrighele1y ago

"Trump Tells Europe to Buy American Arms to Keep NATO Strong". [1]

"U.S. President Donald Trump complained Thursday that his country's decades-old security treaty with Japan is nonreciprocal, as he steps up pressure on allies to increase defense spending and buy more American products." [2]

It's about buying more American weapons.

[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-13/trump-tel...

[2] https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/fd3521d51353-upda...

bhaak1y ago

> It's about buying more American weapons.

He's an idiot if he really thinks that his actions will result in this.

European defense stocks are going parabolic right now.

monetus1y ago

He is indeed an idiot. Often more of an idiot than anyone else around.

tim3331y ago

Yeah this turning of F16 support is really going to sell them.

rocqua1y ago

We're not increasing defense spending to appease Trump though. We're increasing defense spending because we realize a need for strategic independence from the US. Because for the comming 4 years, it's obvious that the US won't be a reliable partner, and might even be an adversary. It makes no sense for us to buy American if we need strategic independence from the US.

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