America Defends Europe By Moving Its Patriot Missiles To The Iran War

WASHINGTON—The United States has reinforced Europe’s protection from Russian ballistic missiles by moving many of the interceptors capable of stopping them to the Middle East, where the six-month war with Iran has required their immediate use.

A U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official told the Associated Press that Patriot stocks among American and allied forces are “beyond critical.” The American military in Europe has very limited capability against even one ballistic missile or a stray Russian round, the U.S. official said, and not enough interceptors for a sustained attack.

A Russian assault on NATO is not considered imminent. European officials have warned that Moscow could be positioned to attack the alliance by 2030, when Patriot inventories are also projected to recover. President Trump said Russia is not going to attack after the CIA director reportedly visited Moscow to deliver the same recommendation.

The Pentagon called shortage reports false, and a NATO military spokesperson said the alliance has enough air-defense munitions to “block punches.” Ukraine continues asking for additional Patriots as Russian ballistic missiles penetrate its defenses. An analyst at a London military think tank said Ukraine’s planned supply contributed to the drawdown, but the unplanned Iran war was the tipping point.

Europe’s first Patriot production facility is expected to open in Germany in September, with initial deliveries possible next year for countries that have already ordered missiles. Until then, the shield’s most dependable layer is that Russia remains too occupied by its present war to begin the next one.