The role of the military-industrial complex in US defense and military policies during the first term of the Trump presidency (2016-2020)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in International Relations, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

This article examines the role of the military-industrial complex in the defense and military policies of the United States during Trump's first term in office between 2016 and 2020. The results show that the US military-industrial complex is the most important group that has benefited from the current hegemonic security trend in the country and has a role in securitizing US foreign policy. The economic activity of the military-industrial complex in American society is carried out in two ways; on the one hand, these complexes act as a driver of the US economy, and when the economy is in recession, the government tries to help increase their sales by supporting the complexes, which creates jobs and capital. The main question is what impact did the military-industrial complex have on the defense and military policies of the United States during Trump's first term in office between 2016 and 2020?
The main hypothesis, using an explanatory-analytical method using secondary data, is that the military-industrial complex, as an identity-building and legitimizing element, has driven the defense and military policies of the United States during the first term of Trump's presidency towards non-participatory unilateralism and increased the risk of war around the world between 2016 and 2020.

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History

  • Receive Date: 12 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 21 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 07 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 20 February 2026

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