U.S. criticizes Europe over defense procurement

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized NATO’s European allies for prioritizing their own defense industries over American arms suppliers, Politico reported citing NATO diplomats.

According to the report, Landau told foreign ministers on 3 December that European governments were “overlooking the role of U.S. defense companies” and urged them to ensure fair market access for American firms.

Another State Department official said Europe must translate its defense spending commitments into real capabilities, warning that “protectionist policies that push U.S. companies out of the market undermine our collective defense.”

Politico also noted that the absence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first such case in more than 20 years.

Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said allies should allocate at least $1 billion per month to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine.