US military faces ‘beyond critical’ shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe

(FILE) Patriot missile launchers acquired from the U.S. last year are seen deployed in Warsaw, Poland, on February 6, 2023. © Michal Dyjuk, AP

The US military is running critically low on Patriot missile interceptors in Europe as the war with Iran drains stocks, according to US and NATO officials. The shortfall is raising concerns about NATO’s ability to counter a potential Russian ballistic missile attack, though officials said no such assault is imminent.

The US military is experiencing a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe, largely driven by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, a US defence official in Europe and a NATO official told The Associated Press. The shortage raises concerns about vulnerabilities in NATO countries to a potential Russian attack.