European leaders are scrambling to reduce their reliance on American weaponry, fearing a potential cutoff if Donald Trump returns to the White House. According to sources cited by The Washington Post, EU officials worry that a shift in U.S. policy could leave NATO allies vulnerable, especially as many of their military systems depend on American-made parts and maintenance.
For years, the U.S. has supplied nearly two-thirds of Europe’s arms imports, with American personnel often operating or maintaining key defense systems. Should Washington pull the plug on support, European forces could struggle to keep missile defense networks, surveillance aircraft, drones, and fighter jets operational. The concern isn’t that Trump would instantly ground every plane or disable every system, but rather that Europe’s deep dependence on U.S. technology—especially in intelligence and communications—could create a serious strategic weakness.
In response, several EU nations are reviewing their arsenals to gauge how exposed they might be. French President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal about the need to move away from American weapons, arguing that true European defense autonomy is impossible if the bloc remains tied to U.S. suppliers. German Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz even floated the idea of extending France’s nuclear deterrent to protect neighboring EU states, a suggestion Macron indicated was worth discussing.
Some countries are already changing course. Denmark’s defense committee chair, Rasmus Jarlov, openly regretted purchasing U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, calling them a security liability. He warned that Washington could leverage its control over the aircraft’s systems to pressure Copenhagen into compliance—possibly even over geopolitical issues like Greenland. Portugal has already abandoned plans to buy F-35s, citing the shifting global landscape. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has supported greater European military self-sufficiency, conceding that Trump’s insistence on Europe shouldering more of its own defense burden “may have a point.”
With the future of U.S.-EU defense ties uncertain, European leaders face a stark choice: maintain the status quo and risk potential vulnerability, or push for greater independence—no matter the cost.
