War in Iran: US Warns Europe of Inevitable Delays in Arms Deliveries 0 5

According to Reuters, American officials have already informed their European counterparts about potential delays in previously concluded arms supply contracts. The reason for this is the ongoing military conflict in Iran, which is seriously depleting US weapon stocks.

Five anonymous sources from the publication confirmed that these delays will affect several European countries. In particular, this concerns the Baltic and Scandinavian states, whose defense needs may be compromised.

Problems with the FMS Program

Part of the mentioned weapons was purchased by European countries under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. However, these deliveries have yet to be made, creating tension in relations.

American officials openly state that these deliveries are likely to be postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, the White House and the State Department have redirected all inquiries to the Pentagon, which is currently refraining from commenting.

Reuters emphasizes the depth of the problem: "These delays highlight how the war against Iran, which began with US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, has started to deplete US stocks of some critically important types of weapons and ammunition."

European officials, not hiding their disappointment, complain that such delays put them in a very difficult position. The FMS program involves the procurement of American-made weapons with logistical support and approval from the US government.

Historical Context and Growing Discontent

During Donald Trump's presidency, Washington actively urged its NATO partners to acquire more American weapons, including through FMS. The goal was to shift some of the defense responsibilities from the US to Europe itself.

However, frequent delays in deliveries are causing increasing frustration in European capitals. Many officials are now increasingly turning their attention to weapon systems produced in Europe.

The American side claims that weapons are now critically needed for the war in the Middle East. They also accuse European countries of insufficient assistance to the US and Israel in ensuring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Depletion of Stocks and Alarming Forecasts

Reuters adds that even before the war with Iran began, the US had effectively exhausted weapon stocks worth billions of dollars. This was due to large-scale supplies to Ukraine since 2022 and military operations by Israel in Gaza, which began in late 2023.

The publication states: "Since the start of the campaign against Iran, Tehran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Gulf countries. Most of them were intercepted, particularly with the help of PAC-3 Patriot interceptors, which Ukraine, for example, relies on to protect its energy and military infrastructure from ballistic missiles."

Reuters sources spoke on the condition of strict anonymity, not disclosing the names of the countries affected by the delays. Some of these states border Russia, and information about the frequency of arms deliveries is classified defense information.

The list of postponed deliveries includes various munitions that can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. This creates additional tension in regions that need to strengthen their defenses.

It is worth noting that earlier media reported that American military forces had expended munitions worth over $5 billion within the first two days of the war against Iran. This indicates the colossal scale of the conflict.

In early April, Donald Trump threatened European allies to halt arms supplies to Ukraine under the PURL program. He set a condition: if they do not join the operation to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, there will be no assistance.

Earlier, the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is considering redirecting important military equipment. This equipment, originally intended for the Ukrainian armed forces, could be directed to meet the needs of the war with Iran.