The United States has told its European allies that it is unhappy with a new European plan that may leave out American companies from selling weapons and defense equipment. According to sources US officials are worried about a new European Union (EU) project called ReArm Europe.
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This project is being led by the European Commission and includes plans to borrow €150 billion to fund defense-related activities using government-backed loans.
The US believes this initiative could make it harder for American defense companies to do business in Europe. Washington is especially concerned because the plan seems to focus only on European companies, possibly keeping out non-European ones such as those from the United States and the United Kingdom.
A source familiar with the talks said the US is not part of ReArm and sees this as a serious issue. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier that this project will help Europe rearm itself and give support to Ukraine, which is still fighting a war against Russia.
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But from the American point of view, leaving out US firms could hurt the long-standing defense relationship between Europe and the United States. Over the years, Europe has depended a lot on American-made weapons, and the US wants to make sure this cooperation continues.
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The tension over ReArm Europe also brings back memories of how European countries felt during the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency. During that time, the Trump administration made some decisions that shook European confidence in the US as a reliable defense partner. For example, there was a temporary cut in military aid to Ukraine, and Trump was seen as being softer on Russia than past US leaders.
These actions made some European countries start thinking more seriously about defending themselves without always depending on the US. That led to bigger plans for a European defense industry, including ideas like ReArm Europe. This new direction means that the EU wants to build more weapons and military systems on its own and may want to buy less from outside countries.
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Now, as the EU begins putting these plans into action, the US is trying to protect the place of its companies in the European arms market. American officials are warning that if Europe keeps US firms out of defense contracts, it could damage cooperation.
High-Level Warnings from Washington
The message from the US government is clear — the US wants to continue being part of Europe’s defense future, especially amid new developments like the ReArm initiative. On March 25, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. During the meeting, Rubio told them that the US strongly wishes to stay involved in Europe’s military spending and equipment buying, particularly in light of ReArm, which could impact American access to European defense contracts.
Two people familiar with what was said at the meeting told that Rubio warned about possible problems if American companies are pushed out of EU defense contracts. He said that Washington would see this as a negative move, especially if ReArm leads to new procurement rules that block non-European firms.
A Nordic diplomat, who wasn’t at the meeting but had knowledge of recent discussions, also confirmed that US officials have recently told European leaders about their concerns. They emphasized that not allowing American companies to take part in large defense plans like ReArm would be a mistake.
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One senior State Department official added that President Trump supports the idea of Europe taking more responsibility for its own security. However, the official also said that Trump is firmly against any rules that would block US companies from joining in on ReArm or other EU defense projects. While the US understands that Europe wants to build up its own defense industry, American leaders are asking for fair treatment. They believe that long-time partners should not be left out, especially when they have been part of Europe’s defense for decades.
The foreign ministries of Latvia and Estonia did not respond when asked about the matter. The Lithuanian foreign ministry chose not to comment.
For now, the US continues to press its case behind the scenes, reminding Europe of the strong military ties they have shared in the past. The discussions around ReArm Europe and US involvement are ongoing.
