RT reported that on March 23, many officials from member states of the European Union (EU) are raising concerns that the Trump administration may stop supporting US-made weapons systems in the context of increasingly tense relations between the two sides.
European officials admit that dependence on US-made missile defense systems, fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could become a major weakness. Some believe that weapons provided by Washington will become useless if access to components, software or data is limited.
In recent years, the US has provided nearly two-thirds of Europe's arms imports, many of which are directly involved in maintenance and operation by US personnel. Equipment containing US components will also be restricted in the event that Europe withdraws support.
Although EU officials say President Trump cannot make a decision just by issuing an order, some member states have begun reviewing their arsenal to assess the extent of damage if funding is limited.
French President Emmanuel Macron has recently called on the EU to stop buying US weapons, stressing that the bloc's arms reconstruction plan would be meaningless if it continued to depend on Washington.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's candidate has proposed expanding France's nuclear deterrence capabilities to protect neighboring EU countries. Mr. Macron said that Germany's idea could be discussed.
Danish Defense Commission Chairman Rasmus Jarlov even expressed regret when Denmark bought the US F-35 fighter jet. He called it an unacceptable security risk and warned that the US could disable the F-35 if Copenhagen rejected Washington's demands, such as transferring Greenland.
Meanwhile, Portugal has decided to cancel plans to buy the F-35, citing the current complex geopolitical context.
On the side of the UK - a non-EU country that often praises Mr Trump's policies and is seen as a bridge between the US and Europe, Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports Europe's trend of military autonomy, saying that President Trump's call for more spending on defense for this continent is "reasonable".
