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US weapons sales overseas reached a record high of $238 billion last year, fueled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The US government directly negotiated $81 billion in sales, a 56% increase from the previous year. The rest of the sales were made by US defense companies to foreign nations. Poland, in its pursuit to enhance its military, made significant purchases, including Apache helicopters, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars), M1A1 Abrams tanks, and Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command Systems. Germany invested $8.5 billion in Chinook helicopters, Bulgaria spent $1.5 billion on Stryker armored vehicles, and Norway purchased $1 billion worth of multi-mission helicopters. The Czech Republic acquired $5.6 billion worth of F-35 jets and munitions. The US State Department emphasized the importance of arms transfers and defense trade as tools of US foreign policy. Sales were also driven by countries shifting away from Russia, which has historically been the second-largest global weapons seller after the US. The Russian defense industry is struggling, as it is being denied the resources that come from exports. President Joe Biden's administration argues that American support to Ukraine benefits the domestic economy through arms sales. However, some US lawmakers are considering ending direct support to Ukraine, with certain Republicans advocating for this to be tied to changes in US immigration policy. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit a Lockheed Martin missile facility in Alabama to highlight the significance of the US defense industry to the alliance. Beyond Europe, notable purchases include South Korea buying F-35 jets and Australia investing $6.3 billion in C130J-30 Super Hercules planes. Additionally, Japan secured a $1 billion deal for an E-2D Hawkeye surveillance plane.