Ultimatum flag for Europe: Buy weapons from us or take care of your own safety

US President Donald Trump's administration has called on allies in Great Britain and Europe to buy American weapons and military equipment to preserve the NATO alliance, European officials known to the issue have declared.

The request has been submitted several times by American officials to their European colleagues over the past few weeks, including meetings among NATO allies that have been held on the European continent this week, according to sources.

Trump's team has also suggested that it wants Europe to buy more American energy during negotiations on co-operation in the field of security, they added.

It is implied that the president can facilitate his request for NATO members to spend 5 percent of their budget on defence if Europe increases interoperability with the American Army and invests more in American companies, some sources said.

Vice President Trump and the new administration have urged our NATO allies to take their share of the burden and meet their commitments for defence expenses. The achievement of our allies meeting these commitments strengthens NATO”, said US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.

This development is the latest example of Trump's transaction relations with US allies, leaving the traditional US role as undisputed transatlantic security partner.

Just hours before Trump threatened European leaders with the announcement that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to start negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO allies that the US is no longer the top “security provider in Europe”.

Trump has long required that Europe spend more on defence, and warnings about NATO has become a frequent topic during the first administration.

In recent weeks, American officials have signaled that they want a closer interoperability between American, British and European armies regarding missile systems, ammunition, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, according to persons familiar with these discussions.

This would probably require European nations to sign more contracts with American defense companies, which would present difficult decisions for leaders on the continent.

Members of the European Union are discussing whether to limit purchases by European suppliers, who will not be willing to offer several weapons they need for several years to avoid co-operating with Great Britain or to buy from the US.

According to an estimate by BloombergThe protection of Ukraine and the expansion of European armies can cost the continent's main powers of $3.1 trillion additional dollars in the next 10 years.

Buying American protective equipment can be a potential strategy for some European countries like Great Britain, which still has setbacks in developing its capacities in many areas, according to an executive director in the defence industry.

In Europe, however, doubts may arise about allowing their military capabilities to depend heavily on American technology, especially in light of Trump's comprehensive approach to Europe's defence, they added. /Telegraphy/