April 12, 2025
The export of U.S. weapons is highly bureaucratic and suffers from surplus restrictions that are enforced mainly out of inertia, tied to agreements russia has systematically violated for years
The United States is simplifying arms export rules to speed up exports and increase sales volumes. This decision is being implemented thanks to Donald Trump’s order and was met with great optimism by American arms manufacturers. Despite a relatively liberal domestic arms market, export sales are quite unique in that respect.
Moreover, it is likely that Ukraine will be able to capitalize on this, given the backdrop of Kyiv’s stated intentions to purchase $30–50 billion worth of American weapons. This will require effort and persuasive power from Ukrainian diplomats, though. The order, signed by Trump on April 9, stipulates that within 60 days, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense are to create a “list of priority partners” and a list of priority weapons and military equipment.
It is not known how extensive these lists will be, but the types of weapons are outlined. As noted, restrictions imposed by the Missile Technology Control Regime (Category I) should be revised for selected countries in order to facilitate such supplies. This category includes ballistic and cruise missiles with a warhead of up to 500 kg and a range of no less than 300 km, as well as equipment for their production and key systems.
Worth noting, the Missile Technology Control Regime is not a treaty, and its implementation was but a gentleman’s agreement — incompatible with the russian federation, which has been systematically violating the Regime. For the United States, it’s about selling not only the Tomahawk, but also the PrSM for HIMARS and other long-range weapons.
In addition, bureaucratic procedures are being simplified and accelerated. Let’s recall that the vast majority of U.S. arms exports are authorized under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, where a foreign country orders weapons not directly from the manufacturer, but from the U.S. government, which in turn orders them from the companies.
Since this is a government decision, it requires numerous approvals, which until now have been processed sequentially, proceeding from one government agency to another. Parallel decision-making, where all bodies carry out bureaucratic procedures simultaneously and independently, will be introduced. Additionally, a plan to enhance accountability and transparency in arms sales will be developed within 90 days.
In addition, the list of weapons that can be purchased exclusively through the FMS mechanism should be reviewed and reduced. Presently, it covers everything except light weapons and ammunition. Besides obvious articles like fighter jets and missiles, it includes electronic warfare equipment, flares, and sonars.
Once the list of items only available through FMS is shortened, U.S. defense companies will be able to more actively utilize the Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) mechanism for arms exports. The latter allows direct contracts between the producer and the customer. This shift is expected to be implemented within 120 days.
In general, the American defense industry has welcomed the decision to liberalize arms exports, as both buyers and manufacturers used to suffer from bureaucratic procedures. Moreover, the use of the DCS mechanism is much more profitable, because under FMS, they sold weapons on the terms dictated by the government.
If we had a real president for once, one with morals, dignity, foresight, a sense of righteousness, and also courage, he or she would give Ukraine all it needs to finally defeat the evil, brutal horde of orcs. Instead, we have a POS, a crook, and a pathetic toddler in a suit with absolutely no positive aspects to his persona.
Ho ho, he told live on telly, which Ministers made a lot of money………………after (or better before) his decision to cancel the tariffs for 90 days…………..2 billion, one bilion. etc, etc.
The SEC will not react.
“The SEC will not react.”
… while trumpkov is in power.
The statute of limitations for insider trading in the US is generally five years for civil enforcement actions by the SEC and six years for criminal charges. So, there’s still hope that charged will be filed after the criminal regime is out of power.
I hope for landslide victories for the Democrats in the mid-terms. So, maybe we can see justice done sooner than after four years of Trump’s Nazi regime.
I hope so too. And I hope that results in Congress taking back some of the powers it’s given up to trumpkov.
But the SEC is part of the Executive Branch, so any Democratic victories in the midterms would be unlikely to change anything in regards to SEC actions.
But, a crime is a crime.
He has a terrible habit of telling on himself and others, yet nothing ever seems to happen to him for it.
Yeah, and it beats me why everyone cowers before this toddler in a suit.
You’re just angry because Trump is helping Ukraine. Albeit, just a little. Instead, you should be happy for Ukraine. It still looks like your TDS won’t allow you to love Ukraine more than you hate Trump.
“it is likely that Ukraine will be able to capitalize on this”
This is the part of the process that fed the Right Wing propagandists like Faker Carlson:
“Let’s recall that the vast majority of U.S. arms exports are authorized under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, where a foreign country orders weapons not directly from the manufacturer, but from the U.S. government, which in turn orders them from the companies.”
All that money legislated for Ukraine, 90% of which was actually going to the US MIC..
“Trump is helping Ukraine.”
That’s still to be determined.
trumpkov is helping US arms manufacturers, by making it easier to sell to other countries. This is likely a response to the European push to buy weapons locally.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/
(Which in turn is a response to trumpkov *cutting off* military aid for Ukraine.)
It could be a couple of months before we know if Ukraine is considered a “priority partner”. And 4 months before U.S. defense companies could take advantage of any change.
I will be very happy for Ukraine if this actually winds up benefitting them. But given trumpkov’s well-documented hatred for Ukraine, I’m not too hopeful.
“This is likely a response to the European push to buy weapons locally.”
That push was also written about here on Ukraine Today:
“New European Union Plan To Boost Local Arms Production Would Freeze U.S. Out Of Billions”
“Sparked in large measure by concerns that the U.S. is aligning itself closer to Russia, receding from its traditional ties with NATO and the stability of U.S. weapons exports, the European Union has created a new initiative to increase defense spending and drastically boost local arms production. The move to ‘buy local’ could effectively freeze the U.S. out of billions of dollars in potential arms sales.”
Yes, they enjoy discussing useful things all the time. Implementing them is usually a slight problem.