Summary
U.S. officials have warned European allies against excluding American defense firms from EU weapons tenders, amid new EU proposals to boost domestic arms production.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized U.S. concerns in recent meetings, citing potential negative repercussions if U.S. companies are sidelined.
The EU’s €150 billion ReArm Europe plan aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers as Trump signals reduced U.S. NATO engagement.
Washington sees the move as conflicting with its goal of selling arms abroad. Tensions highlight diverging transatlantic defense priorities under Trump’s leadership.
Why would Europe manufacture M16s? HK416s are superior, in that most NATO armies, including the US has adopted it.
Because it’s free. H&K is expensive. I imagine they still hold parents on the HK416 and might prevent other manufacturers from making them. No such restrictions exist for the M16 or AR-15 anymore. While the HK416 may well be superior, there’s nothing wrong with the AR that hasn’t been addressed for years. And it might send a bit of a message if Europe starts building a bunch of them.