It’s been over two and half years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, escalating a decades old conflict. Just after recognizing the breakaway of Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia launched a full-scale invasion in Eastern Ukraine. Less than a year into the conflict, in December of 2022, U.S. president Joe Biden announced a $2 Billion aid plan with the intent of sending weapons to Ukraine to assist their fight against Russia.

Just a month after, the U.S. announced a plan to send tanks to Ukraine, alongside other NATO allies like Germany. By this point, American factories had upped their production, and states like Pennsylvania alone are producing Military equipment for Ukraine than several NATO countries. Despite backlash from Republican politicians and their crowd, Biden has continued to expand his aid efforts, as they not only assist an ally against a rival world power but are more importantly boosting the economy of the U.S., creating jobs, and restoring America’s role as world police.

Producing weapons for Ukraine has benefited the U.S. arms industry. A majority of the $50+ Billion the U.S. has allocated for spending on Ukraine, has actually been used to on Military funding at home. Committing Billions to our own Military spending allows for us to produce more advanced weaponry, while storages of old technology are cleared out and sent to Ukraine to make room for newly produced equipment. The conflict in Ukraine is only increasing our lead as the most militarily advanced country in the world.

Sending weapons to Ukraine creates jobs. Production in industrial cities has increased so much because of this boosted military spending, that employment has increased locally to keep up with the demand of a production rate, which has increased tenfold in some areas. This demand for weapons has brought cities back to their once prominent role as production powerhouses, such as Ruston, Pennsylvania.

Sending aid to Ukraine restores America’s role as defenders of democracy. Over the past 30 years, the U.S. has had a significant drop in international approval because of its role as an aggressor in several questionable conflicts like the wars in Iraq, the Gulf War, and the war in Afghanistan. Having an exaggerated role in a war against a widely hated superpower in Russia, has helped restore approval of the U.S. in its role as world police.

There’s no doubt that there’s a cost for this industrial spur. The most viable option for a country in a situation like Ukraine’s is to take any help you can get, and that’s exactly what they’re doing.

The price of this boom is the blood of Ukrainians fighting for their sovereignty. Because the equipment being sent to Ukraine is not the most technologically advanced, it is allowing them to stay toe to toe with Russia but is not enough to give them the edge. Because of this, a cycle of back-and-forth conflict will continue until either a NATO country offers Ukraine more advanced technology, or Russia eventually overpowers them. This cycle creates an infinite justification for increasing our Military spending. The death of Ukrainians justifies a booming military industrial complex; not ethical, but beneficial.

The truth is, that without American aid, Ukraine may have fallen by now. However unethical the manner may be, sending weapons to Ukraine has given them the chance to defend their freedoms from Russia, and has greatly benefited the American economy and reputation.