The United States has informed several European allies that deliveries of previously contracted weapons are likely to be delayed as the war against Iran continues to draw on American stockpiles, according to officials cited by Reuters.
The decision highlights growing pressure on US weapons inventories as the Middle East conflict continues to consume air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition.
Baltic and Nordic allies warned of disruptions
The delays are expected to affect countries in the Baltic region and Scandinavia, with European officials warning the disruption could weaken defense readiness at a time of heightened security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank.
US officials told European counterparts that some shipments under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program would not arrive on schedule, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
The Reuters report notes that the war against Iran, which began with US-Israeli strikes in late February, has accelerated the drawdown of key US munitions already depleted by military support for Ukraine since 2022 and operations in Gaza since 2023.
The delayed shipments include a range of munitions used for both offensive and defensive purposes, according to the sources.
Air defense interceptors among the strained systems
European officials said some of the delayed systems include ammunition and air defense-related munitions. Several of the affected countries are close to Russia, making any disruption in deliveries particularly sensitive.
Air defense interceptors such as Patriot PAC-3 missiles are among the systems under strain. These same interceptors are also used by Ukraine to defend critical infrastructure from Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukraine's air defense supply chain under added pressure
For Kyiv, the development adds another layer of uncertainty around Western military supply chains that underpin Ukraine’s air defense network.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has depended heavily on US-made systems and munitions supplied through the same procurement channels now affected by competing demand from other theaters.
Ukrainian officials and analysts have previously warned that escalation in the Middle East or other global flashpoints could divert attention and resources away from Ukraine’s battlefield needs, particularly in air defense – one of the country’s most critical vulnerabilities.
