Trump is reported to unilaterally reinterpret the missile treaty to compete with countries such as China, and sell advanced drones
Facing fierce competition from Chinese, Israeli, and Turkish rivals, US drone manufacturers are struggling. Seeing this, President Trump has started to come up with bad ideas again.
On September 5 local time, Reuters reported, citing a US official and four sources, that Trump plans to unilaterally "reinterpret" the 38-year-old international agreement, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), aimed at preventing the spread of missile technology, to pave the way for the overseas sales of MQ-9 "Reaper" drones and other advanced military drones. The US State Department spokesperson declined to comment on this.
The Missile Technology Control Regime was established in 1987 by the Group of Seven (G7). Its core purpose is to prevent the spread of missiles and related technologies capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. It currently has 35 member states. This regime limits the export of cruise missiles with a range exceeding 300 kilometers, but it is essentially a "gentlemen's agreement" without legal binding force, and the relevant export approvals are still determined by member states themselves.
According to Reuters, drones with long-range flight capabilities and the ability to carry weapons are also included in the scope of control of this regime. Therefore, Trump's plan is to change the classification of drones, classifying them as "aircraft" similar to F-16 fighter jets, rather than "missile systems", to bypass MTCR restrictions and promote exports to the UAE and Eastern European countries.
The new export guidelines have not yet determined the specific release date. A US official who did not want to be named told Reuters that with the global drone market becoming increasingly competitive, the new policy will help the US "become a major drone supplier, rather than giving up this market space to China and Turkey."
The report mentioned that China and Israel are not signatories of the MTCR, which allows the two countries to win many orders in the Middle East. Turkey signed the MTCR in 1997, but because its drones have a shorter range and lighter weight compared to heavy drones like the "Reaper," they are subject to different control standards under the treaty.
According to the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China maintains a dialogue mechanism with the MTCR. When formulating regulations and lists for missile exports, China has drawn on the MTCR criteria and technical annexes.
Last October 25, the Chinese delegation made a special speech at the First Committee of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on conventional arms issues, stating that China actively participates in global arms trade governance, and values the important role of the treaty in preventing the illegal transfer of weapons, alleviating the instability and humanitarian disasters caused by the proliferation of weapons. China has always taken a cautious and responsible attitude towards military product exports, strictly adhering to the three principles of military product exports, ensuring that relevant exports help the legitimate self-defense capabilities of the recipient country, do not harm the peace, security, and stability of the relevant region, and do not interfere in the internal affairs of the recipient country. China does not transfer weapons to non-state actors.
According to Reuters, this adjustment by the US side will also benefit manufacturers developing large advanced drones powered by jet engines. These companies are developing next-generation products that can act as "loyal wingmen," working in conjunction with manned aircraft. This field is seen as a potential new market for drone technology.
According to the aforementioned officials, the new policy will include the products of large drone manufacturers such as General Atomics, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, and Anduril, within the "foreign military sales" category set by the US State Department, thus facilitating these companies' international sales.
The official also pointed out that this move is the first step in the US plan to conduct a "major" review of the "Foreign Military Sales Program."
Another informed source also mentioned that the US government plans to revise the "Foreign Military Sales Program" later this year, and is currently "advancing" the work on related policies.
According to the report, after the policy adjustment, the first large drone military sale target of the US may be Saudi Arabia.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842468372113479/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.