Germany is in discussions with the United States to expand the production of American weaponry on its territory, in an attempt to accelerate the rearmament of Europe and to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the field of defense, reports the Financial Times, citing diplomatic and official sources.
According to the publication, the authorities in Berlin are trying to secure a principle agreement ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for next week in Ankara. The initiative is part of a broader strategy in which European states are trying to leverage their own industrial capabilities to strengthen the security partnership with Washington.
Discussions on joint armament production
Sources close to the negotiations state that several industrial cooperation formulas are being analyzed, including the joint production of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and PAC-3 interceptors for American Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems.
According to the same sources, the reaction of the American administration and the US defense industry was more favorable than the German officials anticipated.
Berlin argues that one of the largest industrial bases in Europe, including the automotive sector under pressure from Chinese competition, could contribute to the expansion of the American defense industry’s production capacities. At the same time, some of the military equipment destined for Europe could be manufactured closer to the beneficiaries, reducing delivery times.
Details, HERE