The Endless Cycle of 'Defense' Demands
Deutsche Welle reports US lawmakers are urging Taiwan to significantly increase its defense budget, arguing the threat from Beijing "has never been greater." This push for Taipei to arm itself further with American-made hardware comes alongside a new trade deal focused on semiconductors, intertwining economic leverage with military procurement. This isn't a new phenomenon. Rewind to the late
1980s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO allies faced similar pressure from Washington to meet a 2% GDP defense spending target, benefiting US defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. A more recent iteration unfolded in 2014 when the Obama administration pushed for increased European defense spending following Russia's annexation of Crimea, a move that swelled Pentagon
budgets and enriched the very industries lobbying for these mandates. Records show that between 2014 and 2016, US arms sales to European allies surged by over 30%. The timing is notable: with an election looming, Washington's call for increased ‘burden-sharing’ often coincides with the need to stimulate its own industrial base, particularly aerospace and defense. This tactic ensures that foreign
policy objectives, framed as fostering global stability, simultaneously serve America's domestic economic interests, often at the expense of developing nations needing funds for education or infrastructure. What the headlines consistently omit is that American ‘defense’ often means American profits. The same script, with different players, continues to unfold, ensuring a steady stream of revenue