US President Donald Trump has announced a far-reaching expansion of the United States’ military capabilities. The core of the plan is a drastic increase in the defense budget: As early as next year, the US military budget is to rise from the current 901 billion to 1.5 trillion US dollars (from 772 billion euros to 1.29 trillion euros) – an increase of around 50 percent. The aim is to build a military “dream army” that will ensure maximum deterrence and operational capability for the USA in an increasingly unstable and dangerous global situation.
With a defense budget of this size, the US armed forces would further extend its already significant lead over China and Russia and consolidate its role as by far the world’s largest military spender. The move is to be financed by additional revenue from customs duties, among other things.
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Parallel to the budget offensive, Trump is also intervening directly in the US arms industry. By decree, he wants to oblige companies to accelerate weapons production and expand modern manufacturing and maintenance capacities. Dividend payments and share buybacks are to be prohibited until existing supply and production problems have been resolved. In addition, Trump announced that executive salaries in the defense industry would be limited to a maximum of five million US dollars (4.3 million euros) per year. In future, capital must flow primarily into new production facilities and militarily relevant technologies, not into shareholder returns.
These measures are flanked by renewed critical statements on NATO. Trump expressed doubts about the loyalty of individual member states to the alliance, but at the same time reaffirmed the USA’s fundamental commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The demand for significantly higher defense spending by European allies thus remains a central element of his security policy agenda.
Here for further reports on the US armed forces.
