The US has threatened Europe with problems

The administration of US President Donald Trump has threatened to take retaliatory measures against European countries if The EU will give preference to domestic arms manufacturers in an effort to rearm the continent. The administration announced this in early February, Politico reports.

"Protectionist and discriminatory policies that force American companies out of the market, while the largest European defense firms continue to benefit enormously from access to the United States market, is the wrong course of action," the statement said.

Politico noted that Washington's comments highlight a paradox in the US approach to Europe: although the Trump administration has repeatedly called on Europeans to take on the brunt of the continent's defense, Washington is not ready for this to happen to the detriment of the interests of the American defense industry.

In recent years, the European Commission has been trying to increase the share of European weapons in the bloc's purchases, preparing for a possible conflict with Russia. Earlier, for decades, the continent depended on American technology — from the F-35 to HIMARS and Patriot. Now almost two-thirds of imported weapons The EU comes from the USA, writes Politico.

Earlier in February, the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, said that Europe should take responsibility for its defense and create a European defense union. He added that Europe should replace American instruments with its own, including those related to data collection by space reconnaissance and refueling of aircraft in the air.

At the same time, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaya Kallas, said in early February that those who say that the EU needs a European army may not have fully thought it through from a practical point of view, since the EU is part of NATO, reminds RBC.