NATO chief seeks to convince Trump to make it easier for Europeans to access American weapons
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has begun talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, aimed at liberalizing European countries' access to US military equipment.
This is reported by NTV, Censor.NET with reference to European Pravda.
Rutte emphasized that European NATO allies are already investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the US defense industry. However, the existing bureaucratic obstacles that require the approval of Congress, the Pentagon, and the White House significantly complicate and slow down the supply process.
As an example, he cited the demand for Patriot missile defense systems. "They cost two billion a piece. This is a huge amount of money for the United States and for the American economy," Rutte said.
According to him, the simplification of procedures will help meet the growing demand and will also bring significant economic benefits to the United States.
Rutte's expectations
Rutte's talks are based on the assumption that Trump, once back in the White House, will continue to demand increased defense spending from European allies. In his previous cadence (2017-2021), Trump repeatedly criticized NATO countries for not contributing enough to common defense and even threatened to withdraw the United States from the Alliance.
Rutte aims to convince the Trump administration that simplifying arms transfers will not only strengthen Europe's defense capabilities but also meet the economic interests of the United States.