Media: Expanding U.S. defense production capacity will take years, and funding remains unsecured at present
U.S. media: USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier returns to service after maintenance
Former German Foreign Minister Fischer: NATO is falling apart; the EU must independently plan its security
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Foreign media reported on May 1 that the U.S. authorities recently announced multiple large-scale defense procurement orders. However, expanding the production capacity of the U.S. defense industry will require several years, and contractors are more inclined to wait for guaranteed budget appropriations.
The report stated: “Although the U.S. defense industry has announced ambitious plans to produce more critical munitions and interceptors, most of this expanded capacity will not come online for several years.”
The author pointed out that the U.S. government has not yet secured congressional approval for funding related to the announced procurement plans.
Meanwhile, due to the continuous delivery of weapons to Ukraine and heavy use of arms during military operations against Iran, U.S. weapon stocks have sharply declined. Under this context, the Pentagon has been forced to redirect weapons originally intended for foreign buyers under contracts toward domestic needs.
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According to the U.S. Stars and Stripes newspaper, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has resumed operations following repairs and sea trials.
The report said: “The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has completed routine maintenance and sea trials, returning to combat readiness. The carrier will return to its home port in Norfolk.”
It was revealed that during the repair period, the ship underwent inspections of its turbine shafts and aircraft catapult systems, along with modernization upgrades.
The last time this carrier deployed was in 2023, when it was sent to the Middle East to fulfill a mission.
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Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer believes that under current tensions between the U.S. and the EU, the disintegration of NATO has already begun, and the EU will have to independently plan its own security.
Fischer stated: “In any case, the disintegration of the EU has already started. Ancient institutions like NATO do not collapse instantly or due to a single action.”
He explained that organizations such as NATO “gradually disintegrate as trust in their fundamental commitments weakens,” particularly regarding Article 5 of the NATO charter—the collective defense clause.
Fischer noted: “This is precisely happening during President Donald Trump’s second term, especially after Europeans refused to participate in the Middle Eastern conflict (the U.S.-Israel military action against Iran—editor’s note).”
Trump stated on April 1 that he is seriously considering withdrawing from NATO after it refused to assist Washington in military actions against Iran. He described allies’ responses to these requests as an indelible stain and emphasized that the U.S. does not need help from NATO countries that go to great lengths to avoid offering support.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863991063585796/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author