Washington, Feb 7 (.) President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday establishing an “America First Arms Transfer Strategy,” aiming to prioritize US interests in foreign military sales and expand domestic defense production.
To maintain US military dominance and technological superiority, the time has come to establish, implement, and execute an America First Arms Transfer Strategy, he said while stressing that this strategy will advance a technologically superior, ready, and resilient national security industrial enterprise. It will strengthen the United States defense industrial base to ensure it has the capacity to support US military and its allies and partners, especially as the country increase burden-sharing.
The order directs the Departments of War, State, and Commerce to coordinate efforts that will use US-made military equipment as both a foreign policy tool and a means to strengthen the nation’s defense industrial base.
“American-manufactured military equipment is the best in the world,” the order states, adding that the strategy will ensure future arms transfers support domestic production, technological superiority, and national security.
The strategy sets deadlines for federal agencies to identify priority weapons and systems for foreign sales, develop industry engagement plans, and streamline export processes. It also calls for improved monitoring of foreign military use and coordination across agencies to reduce inefficiencies in arms transfers.
A new task force, the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force, will oversee implementation, meet quarterly, and report performance metrics to improve transparency for both US industry and foreign partners.
The order emphasises that arms sales should favor countries that invest in their own defense capabilities, occupy strategic locations, or contribute to US economic security. It also encourages the participation of new and nontraditional defense companies to foster innovation and competition. . .