Trump signs order to boost US arms exports and streamline sales
The President of the USA, Donald Trump, signed an executive order on Wednesday to analyse regulations governing the export of military equipment. He aims to facilitate sales for large American defence companies abroad, media reported.
The United States struggles to provide weapon systems to its main allies in a dependable and effective manner, primarily because the procedures for authorizing international military sales are marked by inefficiency and inconsistency, according to White House assistant Will Scharf.
Trump wants to facilitate companies' export of military equipment
During the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, he added that the order mandates the Department of Defense, the State Department, and other government agencies to revise the system of foreign arms sales. This will enable more effective equipment delivery, create jobs in the USA, and generate income for American arms manufacturers.
Reuters reported that the order will increase sales opportunities for large American defence companies, such as Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing. At present, the Arms Export Control Act gives the US Congress the authority to review defence contracts depending on how close an ally the country is and the scale of the planned sale.
During his first term in the White House, Reuters notes that Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Congress's stance on delaying arms sales to other countries. Some lawmakers argued this was necessary, among other things, to defend human rights.
In 2019, Trump caused dissatisfaction among many members of Congress, including some Republicans, by declaring a "state of emergency" due to tensions in relations with Iran. This allowed the shipment of weaponry worth over £6.5 billion to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan - countries accused of human rights violations.
Also on Wednesday, Trump signed an order initiating a general review of public procurement programmes in the Pentagon. Through this executive order, the structure of public procurement within the Department of Defense will be updated, enabling it to respond more swiftly to evolving global situations, according to Scharf.
