The head of U.S. Central Command is urgently advocating for a complete revamp of the current Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, cautioning that its inefficiencies risk ceding influence to China, which offers a more streamlined and appealing alternative to prospective U.S. partners.
„Start from Scratch”
Gen. Michael Kurilla voiced his concerns to lawmakers on Tuesday, describing the FMS system as a primary source of frustration for allies in the region. He emphasized the need for a radical change, suggesting a „blank piece of paper” approach to redesign the entire process.
China’s „Amazon Catalog” Approach
Kurilla highlighted China’s proactive approach to arms sales, which presents a stark contrast to the cumbersome U.S. system. „China shows up with an Amazon catalog,” he stated. „They say, ‘Pick anything in there. I’ll give you financing, free shipping, Prime shipping and no end user agreement.'” This efficient and attractive offering threatens to draw U.S. partners towards China for their security needs.
The Four „Levers” of Inefficiency
According to Kurilla, the FMS process involves four main „levers”: the Pentagon, the State Department, Congress, and the defense industrial base. While the State Department generally handles diplomatic aspects swiftly, the Pentagon can take up to a year just to negotiate a sale. Congressional delays can also occur due to holds on sales.
The Industrial Bottleneck
Kurilla identified the defense industrial base as the most significant bottleneck. He pointed out that underinvestment in production lines has left the industry struggling to meet demand. He urged lawmakers to authorize the Pentagon to grant multi-year contracts to defense firms, reducing their risk and incentivizing long-term investments in production capabilities.
Time for a Clean Sweep
Despite numerous past attempts to reform the FMS process, Kurilla noted that tangible improvements have been lacking. „We’ve had dozens of task forces to look at FMS, and I have not seen much change,” he said. Therefore, he argues, a complete overhaul is necessary to ensure the U.S. remains a competitive and reliable partner in the global arms market.
