Trump to meet US defence firms CEOS to discuss industrial base
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet the chief executives of the biggest US defence companies at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on Friday to discuss how they can source more parts and materials domestically, sources said.
This is the second presidential meeting in as many weeks for executives from Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman Corp and General Dynamics Corp to discuss their supply chains, also referred to as their industrial base.
During the roll out of the Defence Industrial Base Review on October 5, executives from the four defence firms were invited to the Oval office for a meeting that turned into a 90 minute discussion with Trump.
The Pentagon-led review ordered by Trump identified hundreds of instances where the US military depends on foreign countries, especially China, for critical materials.
The 150-page review included a series of recommendations to strengthen American industry.
Friday’s meeting in Arizona will include executives from BAE Systems Plc, which makes howitzers for the Army, as well as industrial giant Honeywell International Inc.
An administration source said weapons sales to Saudi Arabia were not on the official agenda for the Friday meeting, but did not rule out the issue could be raised.
Major US defence contractors have expressed concern to the Trump administration that lawmakers angered by the disappearance of a Saudi journalist in Turkey will block further arms deals with Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro, who has been working to shore up the defence manufacturing base, Deputy Secretary of Defence Pat Shanahan and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey were also expected to be at the meeting.