How 5 Companies Are Keeping The World At War

By Joel Wong

Abby Martinntary reveals how the U.S. military-industrial complex, dominated by five companies, profits from global conflicts through lobbying, arms sales, and revolving door practices, perpetuating endless wars with little accountability and immense financial gain.

Key Takeaways

Profiteering from Wars: U.S. defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing significantly increase their profits and stock prices during global conflicts, benefiting from U.S. military aid that mandates the purchase of American weapons.

Dominance of the Military-Industrial Complex: The U.S. defense industry wields significant influence on American foreign policy, generating nearly a trillion dollars in sales in 2023, with $765 billion from government contracts . Five companies—Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics—dominate the global arms market.

NATO Expansion as a Market Strategy: U.S. defense contractors have actively lobbied for NATO expansion to create new markets, requiring member states to modernize their militaries with American-made weaponry.

U.S. Aid and Weapon Sales: The U.S. stipulates that countries receiving military aid must use it to purchase American weapons, ensuring continuous revenue for defense contractors, even when the aid supports conflicts.

Financial Support for Israel: The U.S. has provided Israel with over $300 billion in aid since 1948, largely allocated to purchasing American weapons, with systems like the Iron Dome boosting revenue for companies such as Raytheon.

Endless War Economy: Since 2001, the U.S. has spent $14 trillion on war, with almost half going to private defense contractors, turning conflicts like the one in Afghanistan into profitable, never-ending ventures.

Revolving Door Influence: A “revolving door” phenomenon sees military officers interning with defense contractors and then returning to government positions, while high-level military officials often join the boards of the big five after retirement, cementing the bond between government and the military-industrial complex.