WASHINGTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration is urging U.S. automakers and manufacturers to expand their involvement in weapons production, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Senior defense officials have engaged in discussions with leading automakers, including General Motors and Ford, to explore increasing the production of weapons and military supplies, said the report, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Military production is currently controlled by a handful of contractors in the country. While many of the largest U.S. manufacturers outside the defense sector have contracts with the Pentagon, these deals are usually narrow in scope and value, focusing on specific products or research.
The talks were initiated prior to the outbreak of the Iran conflict, sources revealed. The strain the war has placed on U.S. munitions stockpiles highlights a critical need for the military to expand its network of commercial partners, enabling a rapid surge in the production of essential munitions and advanced tactical equipment, such as missiles and counter-drone systems.
Lawmakers and Pentagon leaders have grown deeply concerned about the U.S. weapons manufacturing capacity, especially after the country and its NATO allies began delivering vast quantities of arms to Ukraine in 2022.
In response to these mounting challenges, the Pentagon has submitted a record 1.5 trillion U.S. dollar budget proposal, a massive push to expand production capabilities for munitions and drones. ■