The United States said on the 29th that the United States' military equipment to foreign countries rose to a record $238 billion in fiscal year 2023. "Sales/transfers are seen as important U.S. foreign policy tools with potential long-term implications for regional and global security," the U.S. said in a statement. ”
According to U.S. media reports, there are usually two ways for foreign parties to buy U.S. fire: first, directly negotiate commercial sales with U.S. companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon; Second, contact the military** of the U.S. agencies in the region to discuss arms purchases. Both methods need to be approved by the United States**. According to the report, direct arms sales by U.S. companies rose from $153.6 billion in fiscal 2022 to $157.5 billion in fiscal 2023, a year-on-year increase of 25%；Arms sales arranged through the United States** rose by a whopping 55.5 billion from $51.9 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $80.9 billion in fiscal year 20239%。
On the one hand, the United States has made a lot of war money through military diplomacy, and on the other hand, the United States has exercised control over the region and even regional countries through foreign equipment, giving full play to the political and military influence of the United States. Military expert Song Zhongping said in an interview with the "Global Times" on the 30th that the United States itself is a salesman for arms dealers, so every time there is a war and conflict, it is the American politicians who rush to the forefront, "The reason why the United States has won a wide range of international markets is that the United States has played an irreplaceable role." ”
According to reports, the total value of U.S. military equipment as a whole in fiscal year 2023 increased by 16%. Among them, the arms sales approved by the United States in fiscal year 2023 include the Hippocampus high-mobility rocket launcher worth $10 billion to Poland, the AIM-120C-8 Advanced Intermediate-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) worth $2.9 billion to Germany, and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (NASAM) worth $1.2 billion to Ukraine. A number of foreign media reports such as the American "Politico" news network mentioned that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to a number of huge US arms sales orders.
Military experts believe that this data reflects from another angle that the United States does not want peace in the world the most, and only when there are constant conflicts in the world can US arms dealers play a greater role and earn more ill-gotten gains. Song Zhongping said, "The United States continues to play up the theory of the 'China threat', the 'Russian threat', and the 'Iranian threat', creating a tense atmosphere, triggering a regional arms race, and allowing relevant countries to buy American equipment on a large scale and make a lot of money for themselves." The less peaceful the world is, the more tense the situation is, the more the United States' equipment will be in demand, and the United States is also the biggest beneficiary. ”
According to reports, creating regional conflicts and provoking disputes has always been the best mode for the United States to make war profits, and the most typical example is the Gulf War. After the end of the Gulf War, US firearms dealers sold various types of equipment such as "Patriot" missiles and "Tomahawk" cruise missiles used during the Gulf War. "The latest example is that the United States created the theory of the Russian threat and carefully planned the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, allowing NATO and other European countries to buy a large number of American equipment, which is one of the most direct reasons for the record growth of military equipment in the United States in fiscal year 2023. Song Zhongping said.
In addition to making a lot of war money, the United States also exerts political influence through foreign arms sales. Song Zhongping said, "Once equipped with American-made equipment, in fact, it will be subject to the United States, whether it is the use, maintenance, upgrading and transformation of equipment, it needs to rely heavily on the United States, which also enables the United States to have a certain right to speak between regions and countries." ”