US firms chase European arms spending wave

US defence giants, backed by a strong Congressional delegation from Washington, used the Paris Airshow to showcase cutting-edge technologies and court European partners as they seek to tap into rising regional military spending. Many European nations have pledged to significantly increase defence budgets in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as US President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to scale back military support for the region.

- reporter Reuters

That tension has been notably absent at this week's Paris Airshow, where US lawmakers and arms manufacturers pledged greater transatlantic partnership as Europe ramps up spending on everything from artillery shells and fighter jets to missile defence systems.

“We understand that our allies and partners are a force multiplier, so we are stronger when we are working together,” US Senator Jerry Moran, a member of Trump's Republican party, told reporters at the show, the world’s largest aerospace and defence gathering.

Moran, whose delegation was supporting US weapons makers, said it was in Paris to send a message that the US “is a dependable and reliable partner”. The conciliatory tone stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration's recent string of disparaging remarks about Europe and its defence industry. “I think antagonising our allies does not make us stronger,” Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen told reporters in Paris, expressing her desire to cement defence relations with Europe.