WASHINGTON – The programme, which was reportedly launched last year, hasalready seen the State Department allocating $190 million for the deliveryof US-made military hardware to six countries, including Albania, Croatia,Greece, and Slovakia.
The US State Department plans to expand its so-called EuropeanRecapitalisation Incentive Programme, which involves Washington offeringEastern European countries cash to purchase American weaponry in exchangefor their giving up Russian- and the Chinese-made arms, the Defence Onereports.
The website cited an unnamed State Department official as saying thatWashington now wants the year-old programme to go global and help USpartners “get away or stay away from Russian or Chinese [military]equipment”.
With countries outside of Europe yet to be identified by the StateDepartment, it is believed to be considering countries in Central Asia,Southeast Asia and Africa.
According to the source, the programme obliges countries to scrap theirRussian and Chinese weapons, pledge not to buy new ones and earmark some oftheir own funding for purchasing American arms.
If a country continues to buy parts for Soviet-era helicopters and infantryfighting vehicles, they may face US sanctions.
The goal is to “incentivise partners and allies to put in their own fundsto modernise their military and divest Russian legacy equipment. The ideabeing, we can put in some US grant military assistance. They would then putin some amount of partner military [funding]”, the official said.
They added that the State Department does not use US taxpayers’ money toimplement the programme and that it is “going in with our partner togetherto build an overarching capability”.
Under the programme that was unveiled in 2018, the State Department hasalready vowed to allocate about $190 million for the implementation of theproject in six countries — Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, NorthMacedonia and Slovakia.
These countries are expected to move ahead with purchasing US-madehelicopters and infantry fighting vehicles over the next few years.
The source claimed the programme’s second stage may see State Departmentearmark up to $100 million for the endeavour. -Sputnik