France, Italy reportedly opt out of US-NATO arms deal for Ukraine

Kiev Independent ^ | 07 15 2025 | Anna Fratsyvir

[yesthatjallen]

France and Italy will not take part in a new NATO-led initiative to finance the delivery of U.S. weapons to Ukraine, Politico and La Stampa reported on July 16, citing undisclosed government officials in both countries.

Despite being a long-standing supporter of Ukraine, France has opted out of the plan, which was unveiled during U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington on July 14.

Under this scheme, NATO will purchase advanced arms from the U.S., including air defense systems, and deliver some of them to Ukraine.

According to two French officials, France declined to join the plan because of President Emmanuel Macron's push for European nations to strengthen their own defense industries by purchasing domestically produced arms.

France is also contending with budget constraints and rising defense spending targets amid broader economic pressures, Politico wrote.

Italy, meanwhile, has taken a similar position. According to La Stampa, Italian officials ruled out direct purchases of U.S. weapons, citing fiscal limitations and the country's focus on different technological systems, such as the Italian-French-made SAMP/T air defense system already supplied to Ukraine.

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TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: europe; ukraine

[dennisw]

What really going on is that they are cheap bassturds who will not put their money where their mouth is. They blew all their money on housing and feeding young male Muslim invaders and Africans.

[gleeaikin]

From what I have seen elsewhere, at least some countries are already shipping their air defense methods to Ukraine based on replacements they are ordering from the US. As a good businessman I imagine he is looking forward to see how many orders flow in, and how quickly.