Photo: EPA
US President Donald Trump is planning to urge American defense companies to manufacture weapons under license in both Europe and Ukraine, according to Bloomberg, citing officials familiar with the discussions.
“They would like to be able to do this, and we will consider the issue,” Trump said during the G7 summit in France.
According to journalists, Trump told allies that he is considering licensing arrangements for the production of missiles for air defense systems. These weapons are in high demand in Ukraine to counter Russian aerial attacks, while US stockpiles have reportedly been strained due to the conflict in Iran.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the specific licensing agreements would be discussed in detail among participating countries, emphasizing that they involve US companies granting comprehensive production rights to European manufacturers.
French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed that Trump had pushed for greater mobilization of the US defense industry and expanded supply capabilities.
Bloomberg described the G7 summit as an “unexpected success” for Ukraine, highlighting a joint statement by all member states in support of Kyiv and renewed discussions on sanctions and military aid following Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
