{{See also|NATO war in Ukraine}}
The [[Atlantic Council]] was pushing to ramp up the [[proxy war ]] between Russian speaking Ukrainians and Ukrainian nationalist. In 2015 the Atlantic Council helped prepare a proposal for arming the Ukrainian military with offensive weaponry like Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Atlantic Council has been funded by the two manufacturers of the Javelin missile system, Raytheon and [[Lockheed Martin]]. This created an appearance of a [[conflict of interest]]. The think tank in fact presented its Distinguished Business Leadership Award to Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson that same year.
[[Lloyd Austin]] was appointed defense minister of the [[Biden junta]] in 2021. He previously served on the Board of Raytheon prior to rejoining the [[civil service system]].<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-embraces-the-military-industrial-complex-over-civilian-control</ref> Within 3 weeks of occupying the position of defense chief, Raytheon was awarded a $49 million contract by the [[Pentagon]].<ref>https://bigleaguepolitics.com/raytheon-awarded-49-million-dod-contract-weeks-after-former-board-member-lloyd-austin-confirmed-as-defense-secretary/</ref> Austin walked away from Raytheon weeks earlier with a $1.7 million bonus and retirement package.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-10/biden-defense-pick-to-get-up-to-1-7-million-from-raytheon-role</ref>