The United States has expressed strong concerns about potentially being excluded from the European Union's new €150 billion defense initiative, which aims to strengthen European military capabilities and support Ukraine.
The European Commission recently announced "ReArm Europe," a major defense funding program that would provide government loans for defense projects. However, the initiative's proposed procurement rules could limit participation from non-EU defense companies, particularly those from the US and UK.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio directly addressed these concerns in discussions with Baltic foreign ministers, warning that excluding American firms from European defense contracts would face opposition from Washington. The message reflects growing unease in the US about losing access to Europe's defense market.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has positioned the program as critical for strengthening Europe's defense industry and maintaining support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The push for greater European military independence comes partly in response to uncertainty about US commitment to European defense, especially during the Trump administration.
While US officials support Europe taking greater responsibility for its security needs, they oppose new barriers that would shut out American defense companies. The State Department emphasized that any exclusion from EU arms purchases would be viewed as inappropriate.
The initiative highlights growing tensions between the US desire to maintain its role in European defense and the EU's ambitions for greater strategic autonomy. As Europe seeks to reduce dependence on US military support, balancing these competing interests remains a key challenge.
Neither Latvia nor Estonia have responded to inquiries about the discussions, while Lithuanian officials declined to comment on the matter.