The move comes after the US president said Israel's response in Gaza has been "over the top".

US President Joe Biden has said that countries receiving American weapons must adhere to international law in a memorandum issued on Thursday night.

The executive order requires foreign governments receiving military aid to provide written assurances that they are abiding by the laws of war.

The move comes after the president admitted Israel had gone “over the top” in its response in Gaza.

Israel is the largest recipient of US military financing.

In the memorandum, President Biden said that “credible and reliable written assurances” must be provided to the US by foreign governments that receive American weapons to ensure they are used in accordance with international law.

As part of this, foreign governments must also provide assurances that US humanitarian aid is being delivered to civilian populations caught in a conflict.

  • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
    73·
    9 months ago

    Oh, so they’re not buying arms directly from the US government. Instead, the US government is giving them money to buy arms from US manufacturers.

    No wonder defense companies make so much money. They are literally taking government handouts, though 100 different countries.

    • assaultpotato@sh.itjust.works
      5·
      9 months ago

      Wut? The US government doesn’t pay other countries to buy US weapons. Those countries typically fund those purchases from their domestic defense budget. The US government just approves or denies the exports.

      Exceptions are “military aid” which is case-dependent.

      Are you under the impression that the US government pays those 100 countries to buy US made weapons? Or directly sells those weapons themselves?

      • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        9 months ago

        Are you under the impression that the US government pays those 100 countries to buy US made weapons? Or directly sells those weapons themselves?

        That’s what I was wondering about. The article says plainly that all countries that receive military aid are included, then later says that includes 100 countries. It certainly reads to me like we give money to countries that then spend it in the US military industrial complex

        • assaultpotato@sh.itjust.works
          4·
          9 months ago

          Military aid packages are typically reported in USD (“10 billion in military aid”) but usually involve the direct transference of equipment (logistical or frontline) to the foreign country. Usually those countries are existing allies of the US (or at least friendly) and are probably already buying NATO/US gear.

          I’m relatively confident that the US doesn’t typically give USD earmarked for US manufactured weapons systems.