Trump's arms sales reform: Faster deliveries with increased risk of tech leaks

On April 9, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to overhaul the U.S. foreign defence sales process, aiming to streamline arms transfers, enhance transparency, improve accountability, and bolster the domestic defence industry.

The order seeks to reduce bureaucratic delays that have plagued the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, improving delivery times for weapons systems like the F-35 stealth fighter, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

By designing systems with "exportability features" from the outset, the U.S. hopes to maintain its competitive edge in a global arms market increasingly challenged by Russia and China.

The reform could boost U.S. defence manufacturing jobs, with faster arms sales benefiting states like California, Texas, and Ohio. For critical allies like Taiwan, which faces pressure from China, quicker access to systems like the HIMARS rocket launcher could improve deterrence. Eastern European nations, wary of Russian aggression, would benefit from faster deliveries of advanced systems like Patriot missiles.

However, the reform raises concerns about the security of sensitive technologies. By easing regulations, the U.S. is placing more trust in allies, but there is a risk that some could leak advanced technology to adversaries such as Iran or North Korea. Safeguards, such as increased transparency measures, are included, but their effectiveness remains uncertain.

The reform is framed within the broader context of evolving global threats. In previous decades, programs like Lend-Lease and FMS played key roles in securing American interests. Now, the challenge is to balance rapid arms sales with the need for careful vetting and security.

Despite logistical challenges, such as strained production capacities, the executive order also aims to improve collaboration between the government and industry. The U.S. already dominates global arms exports, accounting for 40% of the market, and speedier sales could reinforce this position.

Yet, the reform could provoke competition within NATO, with countries like France and Germany pushing to accelerate their defence production. In the end, while the reform promises economic and geopolitical benefits, it also presents risks related to technology leaks, supply chain pressures, and unintended escalation.

The future impact of these changes remains to be seen.

By Aghakazim Guliyev