Because we buy the best weapon whether it's American or not?
FWIW, the weapon it replaces, the M249 SAW? It's manufactured by FN Herstal, a Belgian arms company.
Hardly. This class of weapon has been obsolete since about 1943 and this specimen is nowhere near being the best version of it. This is just someone's way of compensating HK for the loss of a couple of big contracts. This little project will allow the Germans to unload their unwanted 416 parts on us after all.
Currently FN makes like 60% of the samll arms for the US military.
The M249 is entirely manufactured in Columbia SC by FN Mfg LLC. A small thing called the Berry Amendment makes that a reality.