'Any weapon Europe buys from the US is a liability', rearmament expert says

European NATO members are cutting US weapons dependence, raising defense budgets, but risk technology reliance and missed industrial growth. Experts warn weapons bought from the US bind Europe to external vulnerabilities, undermining autonomous military ecosystems vital for long-term security.

European NATO countries have sharply increased their defense spending while simultaneously reducing their dependency on American arms imports. This shift reflects a strategic drive toward bolstering indigenous military-industrial capabilities to sustain sovereignty over their defense technologies.

The statement comes amid growing concern about Europe's vulnerability due to technology lock-in and reliance on US defense systems. Guntram Wolff, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, critically highlights that any weapon purchased from the US acts as a dual liability: it perpetuates technology dependence and stifles domestic industrial growth necessary for a robust European defense ecosystem.

Strategically, Europe's reliance on American weaponry impedes its ability to form an independent security posture. By continuing to import critical arms, European countries risk ceding strategic autonomy and undermining the resilience of their defense base, a perilous position given rising global tensions.

On a technical level, US-manufactured weapons come with embedded supply chains, software dependencies, and upgrade pathways controlled externally. This creates chokepoints in operation, maintenance, and modernization cycles, restricting Europe’s ability to innovate or adapt systems according to regional security needs.

Looking ahead, to sustain credible autonomous defense capabilities, Europe must accelerate investment in indigenous weapon systems and reduce costly imports. Failing this, European militaries face long-term risks to sovereignty, operational freedom, and the strategic leverage essential in a multipolar geopolitical environment.