Commentary: U.S. Military Contractor Must Be Forced to Rethink Its Relationship with Russia

by Drew Johnson

What the world is witnessing in Ukraine is tragic, and it could get even worse.

Earlier this month, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin warned that he had not yet “started anything serious.” These callous lies were part of a speech by Putin to the Russian parliament that proves the West needs to double down on sanctions.

Putin is not yet deterred, but harsher penalties may do the trick.

Increased economic pressure from the West needs to be serious and crippling to the Russian economy. In fact, Putin recently indicated the existing sanctions are effective at causing Russia economic pain.

Many anti-American nations, like Cuba and China, have been largely supportive of Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. There is not much the American government can do directly to sanction outlaw nations from aiding Russia through trade.

A few rogue corporations have even ignored the idea of sanctions. With corporations, however, America has leverage if they do business in the United States or with the federal government.

Some companies have pushed hard for narrow exceptions to sanctions so they can operate as if there is nothing going on in Ukraine. One such company is European aerospace giant Airbus.

“Airbus, the world’s largest commercial plane maker, is still importing hefty amounts of titanium from one [Russia’s] biggest exporters,” the Wall Street Journal reported. The company has been public about calls “for the European Union to hold off imposing sanctions on the metal, which is used to manufacture critical components of its aircraft, from landing gear and fasteners to the pylons that connect an engine to a wing.”

Trading with a warmongering dictator is far from Airbus’ only problem.

According Politico, Airbus also “advanced technology sharing and manufacturing agreements with entities linked to China’s state-run military apparatus.” A report produced by Horizon Advisory indicated Airbus chose China as the only non-European “final assembly line for wide-body A330s and picked a Communist Party member as chief executive.”

American can’t continue turning a bling eye towards Airbus as the company helps to fund Putin’s war against Ukraine and goes out of its way to support China’s communist government. The solution to the problem is simple; the Biden Administration and Congress needs to end relationships with Airbus until the company refuses to enrich Russia and China.

The European company is currently lobbying the Pentagon to be chosen to manufacture refueling tankers for the Air Force. The Biden Administration should block Airbus from being considered. Additionally, Congress should insert a prohibition in either the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023 or the appropriations bills for next year prohibiting any company importing titanium from Russia from selling aircraft to the U.S. government.

By prohibiting U.S. tax dollars from going to buy goods from Airbus, our leaders in Washington can force Airbus to rethink its relationships with Russia and China, potentially saving innocent lives in the process.

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Drew Johnson is a government watchdog and budget policy scholar at several think tanks.
Photo “Airbus” by Airbus.