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Author: OrmontUS 🐝🐝  😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/19/2025 8:31 PM
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https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/arch...

As part of the “America First” agenda, the Department of Defense is stockpiling weapons. The first clue that something had changed in the U.S. approach to selling military equipment to Europe came as Denmark neared a decision on the purchase of a multibillion-dollar air-defense system. For weeks, American and French negotiators had aggressively pursued the deal. But as the deadline approached, the Pentagon suddenly lost interest.

“We couldn’t understand why,” a contractor who had been tracking the discussions told me. “It seemed like a no-brainer, but they just weren’t into it.”

Then, on a call earlier this month with the State Department, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby said that he didn’t believe in the value of certain foreign military sales, according to two administration officials with knowledge of the discussion. He added that he didn’t like the idea of selling Patriots—which can intercept incoming missiles—to Denmark, because they are in short supply and should be reserved for the United States to use as needed.

Jeff wonders if this is to all of Europe or just to Denmark who owns Greenland - a place the administration has not ruled out using the US military to acquire.

Jeff
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Author: Steve203 🐝  😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/19/2025 9:34 PM
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Jeff wonders if this is to all of Europe or just to Denmark who owns Greenland - a place the administration has not ruled out using the US military to acquire.

A word I learned, in my formative years, watching "Dragnet", "Adam-12" and the original "5-O": "hinky"

One of Trump's asks, in his arty trade deals, has been for the counterparties to buy large amounts of US weapons systems.

Trump says Tokyo agreed to buy U.S. defense gear, but questions remain

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/24/japan...


India to receive billions in US weapons, including F-35 stealth jets: Trump

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/14/india-to-...

But, when it comes to Denmark, suddenly, the cupboard is bare? Greenland? Ukraine? fwiw, the Mr Softie net sifter says:

Denmark's position on Ukraine
Denmark has taken a strong stance in supporting Ukraine, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia. The country has allocated significant financial resources and provided military and civilian support to Ukraine. Denmark's support includes military aid, such as weapons and equipment, as well as civilian assistance for humanitarian efforts and reconstruction. The Danish government has established the Ukraine Fund to ensure continued support for Ukraine, with approximately DKK 64.8 billion allocated for military support through 2028. Denmark also contributes to the training and education of Ukrainian soldiers, participating in various initiatives to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Udenrigsministeriet
+2

Denmark's position on Ukraine reflects its commitment to upholding international law and supporting democratic nations in the face of aggression. The country's actions are part of a broader international effort to support Ukraine and ensure the security and stability of the region.


hinky

Steve
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Author: OrmontUS 🐝🐝  😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/19/2025 10:44 PM
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In January 2025, Denmark announced a new $2.3 billion military investment plan to acquire three new Arctic naval vessels and other defense assets to guard Greenland and strengthen its military presence in the region. The new ships will replace Denmark's aging fleet of four Thetis-class patrol vessels and will be designed for surveillance in Greenland's waters, capable of carrying helicopters and drones.

Key details of the Arctic defense plan:
Replacement of aging ships: The new, more capable vessels will eventually replace the Thetis-class patrol boats, which have been in service since the early 1990s.

Enhanced capabilities: The ships are being designed with icebreaking capabilities to navigate Arctic ice and will feature modular mission bays to support various surveillance and special forces operations. The first new vessel is expected to be delivered around 2029.

Geopolitical context: The move is in response to increased security challenges and rising tensions in the Arctic, including Russia's military buildup in the far north and renewed interest in Greenland from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Beyond new ships: The investment also includes funding for additional long-range surveillance drones, enhanced satellite capacity, and upgrading Greenland's infrastructure, such as the airport in Kangerlussuaq, to support F-35 fighter jets.

Allied cooperation: Denmark continues to participate in military exercises in the region with NATO allies, reinforcing its defense strategy in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Jeff
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Author: tjscott0   😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/20/2025 9:56 AM
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Who is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby?
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/08/elbridge-...
Elbridge Colby spent the last several years in Washington making a name for himself as an experienced, restraint-minded foreign policy leader eager to focus the U.S. military away from Europe and toward the Indo-Pacific.

“He is pissing off just about everyone I know inside the administration,” said one person familiar with the situation. “They all view him as the guy who’s going to make the U.S. do less in the world in general.”

“He has basically decided that he’s going to be the intellectual driving force behind a kind of neo-isolationism that believes that the United States should act more alone, that allies and friends are kind of encumbering,” said a person familiar with the Trump administration dynamics


https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5237883-senate...

Notably, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), an outspoken advocate for projecting American military strength throughout the world and supporting NATO allies, voted against Colby.

McConnell voiced concern about what he called Colby’s desire to prioritize U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific over those in Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East.

Several Democrats voted for the nominee, including Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) and Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), swing-state moderates who sit on the Armed Services panel.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the panel, warned Colby that his previously stated view that that U.S. should tolerate and attempt to contain a nuclear-armed Iran was contrary to Trump’s policy.


My parsing of the above articles has generated a few conclusions.
1)Colby considers Europe of lesser strategic importance to the USA.
Could it be because of Europe demographic decline & shrinking industry plant?
2)Colby wishes to shift emphasis to Asia. Likely due to China's economic strength [Yes I know China is having economic issues and a huge national debt. China's economy is better and larger than Russia's] & ambition to be a bigger world player.
3)Colby's containment policy rather than meddling & intervention is in opposition to past bipartisan international meddling in the world. Thus he is labelled an isolationist with neo-isolationist views.

The US does need to stockpile weaponry and munitions due to a small defense industrial plant. The US still has not significantly ramped up 155mm artillery round production. And has nearly depleted it naval missile supply bombarding Houtis rebels. One wonders how this is possible with a nearly trillion dollar defense budget? Rhetorical question great amounts of money has been wasted on expensive boondoggle weaponry systems. So which are still continuing.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-stockpiles-mi...

By the numbers: US missile capacity depleting fast
Our industrial base isn't keeping up with the pace of weapons transfers to Ukraine and Israel
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Author: tjscott0   😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/20/2025 10:00 AM
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-block-on-so...

The comments surprised some State officials, but they soon learned that it wasn’t just Denmark having its access cut off. Current and former administration officials told me the Pentagon has identified some weapons as being in short supply, and is moving to block new requests for those systems coming in from Europe. It wasn’t immediately clear to those I spoke with how long the hold will last, how many weapons are on the list, or if it could expand to include even more weapons. Few exemptions will be granted.
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Author: Timer321   😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/20/2025 7:00 PM
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Possibility the admin sees Europe as wealthy enough to support its own military defense.


We may have a war in Venezuela we are rearming to fight.
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Author: Timer321   😊 😞
Number: of 2033 
Subject: Re: US halting some weopon sales to Europe
Date: 09/20/2025 8:05 PM
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We will need arms and ammo in Iran? Is that why? Probably.
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