Industry voices highlight Europe's sovereign exposure and a trend toward ITAR-free procurement, with leaders calling for reform to protect security while accelerating processes.

US firms are repositioning to emphasize European footprints and closer regional operations to appear more European, while weighing risks of dependence on the US defense industrial base.

European firms are marketing ITAR-free capabilities to gain market access, with examples like Aktyvus Photonics promoting ITAR-free laser payloads, though achieving parity with US tech remains a challenge.

ITAR regulates defense items on the US Munitions List and tracks US-made components inside foreign weapons, a practice known as the ‘see-through’ rule, potentially needing licenses for such components even when the weapon is built abroad.

Experts note foreign buyers increasingly view ITAR as a hurdle and seek to avoid US-origin parts to preserve sovereignty and speed up sales, with opposition growing among European partners.

European governments are pursuing ITAR-free weapons to reduce reliance on US-controlled components as defense spending rises and trust in US–EU relations wanes.

US industry executives and associations, including the AIA, are pushing for ITAR reform to separate defense export controls from tech security while ensuring timely information to allies; negotiations are ongoing but complex due to national security considerations.

ITAR-free strategies could complicate integrating European components if they incorporate US-origin data or tech, making some modified European parts ITAR-controlled and requiring careful design and data handling.

The push for ITAR-free procurement fits into Europe’s broader defense-industrial strategy and NATO-focused spending, potentially reshaping the global defense supply chain.

The shift is set against deteriorating Washington–Europe relations and rising European defense spending, with broader Western defense ecosystems also signaling a push to reduce US dependency.