U.S. to Reportedly Delay Weapons Deliveries to Europe as Iran War Strains Military Stockpiles
The United States has warned some European allies that previously contracted weapons deliveries may be delayed as the war with Iran continues to drain American stockpiles, according to a new report.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters noted that U.S. officials had informed European counterparts that some arms sales under the Foreign Military Sales program would likely arrive later than expected. The countries affected were said to include allies in the Baltic region and Scandinavia, areas that have become increasingly sensitive because of their proximity to Russia.
Since the war in Iran began, the Pentagon has had to devote critical munitions and air defense resources to the Middle East. Reuters said the delayed weaponry includes several kinds of ammunition, some suitable for both offensive and defensive use.
The Pentagon did not publicly identify which contracts or weapons systems would be affected, but a spokesperson told Reuters: “America’s military is the most powerful in the world, and we will ensure that U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win.” The spokesperson added that the department would not comment on specific allied requirements for operational security reasons.
By Friday, the report had been partly confirmed by governments on NATO‘s eastern flank. Reuters separately reported that Lithuania and Estonia both said they had been notified of possible delays tied to the Iran war. A Lithuanian defense ministry spokesperson said the country had been informed by Pentagon representatives of possible delays in ammunition deliveries, while an Estonian spokesperson said, “I can confirm that we were informed about possible delays.”
The Baltic states are among the countries in NATO’s most sensitive areas. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia all border Russian territory or lie directly along NATO’s eastern frontier. The three countries are dedicating about 5% of GDP to defense this year as they rush to strengthen their militaries. Lithuania has about $640 million in U.S. orders, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, while Estonia has about $160 million in outstanding orders that include HIMARS rocket systems and Javelins.
Reuters noted that even before the Iran war, U.S. arsenals had already been drawn down by support for Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion and by military demands linked to Israel’s campaign in Gaza that began in late 2023. Since the start of the Iran campaign, Tehran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Gulf countries, many intercepted with systems such as the PAC-3 Patriot interceptor, one of the most in-demand air defense munitions in the U.S. arsenal. At the same time, Reuters reported in March that the Trump administration told Congress weapons shipments to Taiwan had not been delayed by the Iran conflict.
