Report: US Patriot missile stockpiles in Europe fall below required minimum

The Associated Press revealed that US Patriot missile stockpiles in Europe have fallen below the required minimum, following the depletion of a large portion during the war on Iran and the transfer of quantities to the Middle East region.

Follow-ups – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

The agency explained that the US used about 65% of its total Patriot missile stockpile, equivalent to approximately 1,500 missiles out of 2,330, during the military confrontation with Iran.

It added that the transfer of these stockpiles to the Middle East region has left Europe with very limited capabilities, to the extent that it may prevent it from countering even a single ballistic missile attack.

The Associated Press noted that this acute shortage has placed a number of NATO allies before a situation it described as illogical, as their countries possess operational Patriot systems, but without sufficient missile stockpiles to operate them.

The depletion of air defense system stockpiles coincides with media reports stating that the US Department of War, the Pentagon, is preparing to present several options regarding the future of US forces in Europe to War Secretary Pete Hegseth, amid concerns among NATO allies that Washington may take decisions to make significant reductions in the size of its military presence on the continent.

These developments coincide with repeated affirmations from the administration of US President Donald Trump on the necessity of European countries bearing more of the defense burdens within NATO, especially after Hegseth explicitly accused some allies of “free-riding” at the expense of the US.