Full details of the American administration's plan to facilitate the export of military equipment.
Sources informed Reuters on Tuesday, April 1, that the U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, plans to issue an executive order aimed at easing restrictions on military equipment exports, with an announcement expected in the coming days.
This move is likely in line with a legislative proposal put forth by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz in 2024, when he was a Republican representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
This decision may lead to increased sales for major U.S. defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing.
The bill, supported by Waltz last year, is expected to amend the Arms Export Control Act, raising the minimum value requiring congressional review for arms transfers from $14 million to $23 million, and from $50 million to $83 million for military equipment sales, training, and other services.
The maximum thresholds for arms export deals will also rise for NATO countries and close U.S. allies such as Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Deals with these countries will require Congress to be notified 15 days in advance, compared to 30 days for other countries.
During his first term, President Trump repeatedly expressed frustration over Congress delaying foreign arms deals due to concerns over human rights or other issues.
In 2019, he sparked widespread anger among lawmakers, including some Republicans, when he declared a national emergency due to tensions with Iran, enabling him to finalize $8 billion worth of arms deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan without congressional approval.
