Foreign Relations

U.S. Patriot Stocks in Europe Fall ‘Beyond Critical’ Amid Iran War

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Courtroom-sketch editorial illustration of a raised Patriot missile launcher in an open winter field, with a blurred soldier in the foreground and a distant treeline, drawn in warm ochre and slate-blue pastel with cross-hatching on sepia newsprint.

A U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official said Patriot interceptor stocks held by American and allied forces in Europe have fallen to “beyond critical” levels after missiles were shifted to the Middle East and heavily used against Iran. One official said Europe now has only very limited capacity against even a single ballistic-missile strike. NATO spokesman Martin O’Donnell disputed that assessment, saying the alliance can defend itself and continue supporting Ukraine, while the Pentagon called shortage claims false. Analysts estimate the Iran war consumed about 1,500 of 2,330 U.S. Patriot interceptors; production is expected to reach about 600 this year.

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