Bangladesh, July 11 -- In a sharp pivot from the policies of his predecessor, US President Donald Trump has announced that NATO allies will now be expected to pay the full cost of American-made weapons, with some of those arms potentially earmarked for delivery to Ukraine. The statement, made during an interview with NBC on July 11, reflects a broader strategic recalibration by the Trump administration that places the financial burden of Western military support squarely on European shoulders.

“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” Trump declared. “NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%.”

The remarks come amid a deepening debate over the role of US taxpayers in f...