PNN – American publication Politico writes that Iran’s asymmetric pressure has called into question the United States’ legendary conventional military superiority.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; Politico has published an analytical report examining the inability of U.S. and NATO armed forces to counter drone warfare, revealing that low-cost drone technology—such as the Shahed—has rendered advanced Western defense doctrines completely ineffective.
The key points of the report are as follows:
The Failure of US Defense Doctrine
Contrary to Donald Trump’s repeated claims regarding the “total destruction of Iran’s military capabilities,” Politico emphasizes that low-cost Shahed drones have posed a structural challenge to advance US military capabilities. Washington and NATO remain completely unprepared and defenseless against this new generation of asymmetric warfare.
Paralysis of Strategic US Bases
Iran’s persistent missile and drone attacks have inflicted severe damage on key US bases in Bahrain and Qatar, destroying command centers, satellite terminals, and storage depots. This situation has deprived the US naval fleet of refueling capabilities at the port of Bahrain, forcing a shift of logistical supply lines 2,000 miles away to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean—all while US air defense stockpiles are running low.
Withdrawal of US Bombers
Politico reveals that warnings regarding Iranian drones not only prompted the hasty withdrawal of all US B-1 strategic bombers from the UK’s RAF Fairford base but also forced Trump—during a July trip to Ankara—to be transported via an “aircraft catering truck” to evade classified drone threats.
Alarm Among European NATO Allies
Senior NATO officials have expressed grave concern that not only are European bases within range of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, but Iran’s drone warfare tactics have also spread to non-state groups and Russia, leaving European infrastructure highly vulnerable.
Establishment of a New Pentagon Command and Its Limited Short-Term Impact
Although U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has established a new command dedicated to “drone warfare,” U.S. officials acknowledge that it will take years for Washington to develop an effective, large-scale defense system capable of countering these emerging threats.
Conclusion
A Politico report explicitly concludes that Iran’s sustained asymmetric drone pressure has called into question America’s legendary conventional military superiority and forced the Pentagon’s defense structures into a reactive and defensive posture.