In previously unreported remarks, the U.S. administration warned Brussels that it will retaliate if Europeans “strong-arm American companies out of the market.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to retaliate against European countries if the EU favors domestic weapons-makers in a drive to rearm the continent.

The U.S. Department of Defense objected to any EU effort to limit American arms-manufacturers’ access to the European market and warned that would trigger a reciprocal response.

The administration made the previously unreported remarks in a contribution to a European Commission consultation earlier this month, after the EU’s executive branch requested feedback from governments and industry on European weapons procurement rules.

MBFC
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  • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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    13 hours ago

    This is so psychotic.

    They’re essentially saying “If you don’t by your weapons from us instead of being self-reliant, then you’re strong-arming us out if your market, so we’re going to strong-arm you into buying our weapons even though you don’t want to. GIVE US YOUR MONEY OR ELSE WE’LL RETALIATE AGAINST YOU!”

    I’m so tired of this abusive mentality.

  • Gammelfisch@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    I wonder what the US MIC is really thinking. More stupid threats dissuade the Europeans from purchasing US made weapons. For every US Dollar spent on NATO, $10.00 returned to the USA. MAGA fucked it all up, tough shit and we will build our own weapon systems with European currency.

  • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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    13 hours ago

    US weapons are unreliable, because the US is unreliable. They’ve made that very clear over the last 10 years.

    Why should anyone in Europe invest further into US weapons, when the US have threaten to annex part of EU territory?

  • Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca
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    16 hours ago

    Here is my Canadian reaction.

    Bwahahahahaha… No.

    Et le reaction en francais pour les Quebecois:

    Ahhhonhonhohohhon… Non, tabernak ostie.

  • hector@lemmy.today
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    17 hours ago

    The pentagon and their arms contractors probably don’t appreciate us going around endorsing the rumours that they have kills switches in a lot of their gear. Tough shit should’ve thought of that before you endorsed Israel’s bullshit to cancel the first amendment and retaliate against american citizens for exercising an opinion.

  • romkube@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    «You need to become more self reliant, and take more responsibility…» «NOOO, not like that 😭»

  • r00ty@kbin.life
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    2 days ago

    So let me get this straight. From the US admin we hear.

    -NATO countries cannot rely on USA to help them if they need us. -NATO countries should be ensuring they can defend themselves.

    But also -You’d also still better buy all your shit from us!

    They’re like the stereotypical bully… “Stop hitting yourself”

  • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    It is way past time to put the industrial military complex to rest. We can solve our problems without blowing each other up. At this point I suspect they are the ones manufacturing conflicts.

    • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Problem with arms races is you can’t end them unless everyone agrees to end them, otherwise you just forfeit.

      • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I think the majority agree wars/conflicts should end. It is the monied minority keeping it going. How long will we let them pit human against each other to line their pocket books?

        • finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world
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          13 hours ago

          Realistically, the average person against cashed up arms dealers who can hire mercenaries at the drop of a hat aren’t really in a position to ‘let’ anyone do anything.

        • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Oh I agree, but as long as they can find people to buy their weapons (even on credit that depends on successfully using them) or weild them for them, they won’t be going anywhere. And automation is quickly approaching the point where they won’t even need others to choose to fight.

  • D_C@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    “I hate you all”, said the fat orange paedo, “but, you know, buy our weapons. And tech. And food. And films. And other things…but, remember, I hate you all. BUY OUR WEAPONS THOUGH!”

    • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      Uhm, no. The EU specifically excluding providers based on their location is very much not the free market at work.

      (They can get fucked tho, euro products all the way baby)

      • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyz
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        16 hours ago

        It’s the EU making the purchase though. Voting with its wallet so to speak. Nobody forces anyone to do anything.

        Me not buying McDonald’s is not a distortion of the free market either, just a healthy dietary and monetary decision.

      • CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I’d argue that the Trumps implication that the US can disable many of these weapons remotely is already a perfectly valid free market reason to not buy them, I mean who wants a back door built into your self defence apparatus?

        • hector@lemmy.today
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          17 hours ago

          Did the president allude to the kill switches in the gear? I missed that, I believe in the kill switches though.

        • lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Agreed. Trump has made it clear that Europe needs weapons primarily to defend itself from the USA.

          It wasn’t Iran that threatened to invade Greenland. Wasn’t russia financing Canadian separatists and threatening to annex a Nato member.

          America is a gangster state. Boycotting the USA is a free-market decision, and the ONLY rational one.

        • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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          2 days ago

          Thats a free market reason not to buy them, but not what is happening. The EU arming initiative stipulates specifically that x% of the procurement must be from EU producers, no? Not free market then.