A U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official have warned of a "beyond critical" shortage of American Patriot missile interceptors in Europe, driven largely by President 
Donald Trump's war with Iran. The shortfall raises concerns about the vulnerability of NATO countries to a potential Russian attack, the Associated Press reported in an exclusive carried by PBS NewsHour. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
How severe is the shortfall? The American military in Europe "definitely" lacks enough Patriots to stop a sustained ballistic missile attack and would have "very limited" capability against a single strike or a stray Russian missile, the U.S. defense official said. Should Russia hit a target such as a military headquarters or power plant with ballistic missiles, NATO could end up like Patriot-starved Ukraine, forced "to take punch after punch in the mouth," in that official's words. Both officials also cited critical shortages of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS.
Why have stocks fallen? U.S. missile stocks in Europe have been moved to the Middle East, where U.S. and Gulf allies have fired significant numbers of interceptors, including Patriots, at Iran's drones and missiles. The Iran conflict, which reaches its six-month mark on Friday, has used up 65% of U.S. Patriots, roughly 1,500 of the nation's 2,330 interceptors, by the count of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ed Arnold of the Royal United Services Institute in London said supplies to Ukraine had been planned for, whereas Middle East stocks were drained unexpectedly and quickly.
How have officials responded? Col. Martin O'Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, said it is "simply not the case" that Patriot numbers in Europe are beyond critical. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said claims of U.S. munition shortages "are false." Asked Thursday whether CIA Director John Ratcliffe, whose trip to Moscow this week to warn Russia not to attack was reported by The Wall Street Journal, had carried that message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said: "I don't want to comment on that, but they're not going to attack."
What happens next? Europe's first Patriot missile production facility is expected to open in Germany in September, NATO said, with deliveries possibly beginning early next year. About 600 missiles should be made this year, with a goal of 2,000 a year by 2030, said Mark Cancian of CSIS.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
