Reverse Turn: Trump Refuses to Grant Ukraine Production License for Patriot Missiles
On August 1, The New York Times reported that Trump has refused to transfer the production authorization for Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns that the weapon could one day be used against the United States.
In fact, Trump has reversed his own promise made in early July, when he had pledged to provide Ukraine with a production license for Patriot missiles. Last Friday, he stated: "We did not agree to this."
The article notes that "during Friday's cabinet meeting, when asked about the agreement, Trump said: 'We didn't agree to do it.' He implied he had changed his position, arguing that such technology cannot be easily handed over and carries risks—'the party that gets the technology might turn the gun on you in the future.'
The article also looks back at history, recalling how, shortly before the fall of the Iranian monarchy in the 1970s, the United States supplied weapons to Iran. In the early stages of the recent U.S.-Iran conflict, U.S. forces destroyed Iran’s final batch of American-made fighter jets—aircraft that had been sold to Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The article points out that if Patriot missile production were to take place within Ukraine, it would require disclosure of sensitive defense secrets and collaboration with major defense contractors such as Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The entire process would take months, or even years. Moreover, any Patriot missile production facility established in Ukraine would immediately become a target for Russian strikes.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872312942068808/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author