President Trump on Thursday ordered a review of foreign arms sales and pledged that his administration will be a strong advocate for U.S. companies selling their weapons abroad.
The review will seek to streamline sales of arms, including drones, in favor of U.S. security and economic interests after criticism by Trump that the process is too long and arduous.
The State Department will head the review with support from the defense, commerce and energy departments and within 60 days will provide recommendations to carry out a new arms sales policy, according to a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Thursday.
“We’ve stepped up our effort not only with respect to Japan, but other allies, that when they order military equipment from us, we will get it taken care of and they will get their equipment rapidly,” Trump said Wednesday night during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The sales are handled by the State Department through the Foreign Military Sales program with oversight by Congress. Trump said bureaucracy at the State Department and the Pentagon are delaying orders by foreign countries for years.
“We are short-circuiting that. It’s now going to be a matter of days,” Trump said. “If they’re our allies, we are going to help them get this very important, great military equipment. And nobody — nobody — makes it like the United States. It’s the best in the world by far.”
His memorandum says foreign arms sales support the defense industrial base along with the 1.7 million people it employs and play a critical role in both national and economic security.
“When a proposed transfer is in the national security interest, which includes our economic security, and in our foreign policy interest, the executive branch will advocate strongly on behalf of United States companies,” according to the memo.
The review is aimed at streamlining procedures, clarifying regulations and maximizing the arms industry’s ability to grow and support U.S. allies, it says.
That includes coming up with an export policy for military drones that tracks “more closely with our national and economic security interests.”
