Implications of Trump’s Arms Sales Strategy

The United States faces rapidly growing demands on its defense industrial base. Since President Trump’s inauguration, the administration has introduced a series of measures to address these pressures, including Executive Order 14383, “Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy.” In this policy brief, IGCC dissertation fellow Chi Fang (2025-26) evaluates whether and how the policy could strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base by leveraging revenues from arms sales, expanding allied industrial participation, and encouraging greater defense investment by partners. Fang argues that success depends on alignment among Congress, the executive branch, and industry; and the political and strategic decisions of U.S. allies.

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