Deterrence Is an Inventory Problem: The Iran War Is Spending Down the Missiles That Protect Europe
US and NATO officials say American stocks of Patriot missile interceptors in Europe are now 'beyond critical' — drained by the war with Iran. That matters because Patriots aren't just weapons; they're the physical backbone of America's promise to defend its allies. When the stockpile runs low, the promise gets thinner, even if no shots are fired in Europe.
Bottom Line
THE BOTTOM LINE: The 'beyond critical' Patriot shortage isn't just a logistics headache — it's proof that the era of assumed-infinite American firepower is over. Every interceptor fired at Iranian missiles is one that can't answer a Russian one, and the US is now openly acknowledging it can't fully cover two theaters at once. No attack on Europe is imminent, but deterrence works on perception, and the perception just took a hit that production lines can't quickly repair.