PNN – The erosion of US missile defense reserves in the wake of the Ukraine war and military support for Europe has effectively turned the Pentagon’s ability to take military action against Iran into an empty threat.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the American Indicist has examined the strategic, military, and political consequences of US military support for Europe in an article, focusing in particular on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the escalating tensions surrounding Iran.
The Quincy Institute for Responsible Government think tank notes in this report that in recent weeks, one of the main themes in the political atmosphere in Washington has been US President Donald Trump’s threat to launch a second round of airstrikes against Iran, a threat that Trump has not yet carried out.
Quincy emphasizes that several explanations have been put forward for this unexpected delay. Among these explanations, the most worrying for US supporters is the Pentagon’s shortage of military munitions, especially air defense interceptors. Citing interviews with current and former US military officials, the American think tank says that the country’s missile defense stockpiles are in a severely depleted and depleted state. The author notes that this situation continues even though eight months have passed since the end of the last major US military campaign, which included defending the Zionist regime in the 12-Day War.
What practical help does the US provide to Ukraine?
According to Quincy, although Trump and his advisers say the United States will no longer pay for military assistance in the Ukraine war, this claim only tells part of the story. The article explains that the US continues to send billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine, and in many cases, these weapons are supplied from new production that was supposed to be used to rebuild US military stockpiles. This situation has far-reaching implications for US military preparedness, the Pentagon’s ability to respond to real threats to its interests, and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The American media emphasizes that although these funds were allocated before Trump took office and are not new costs, the implementation of these orders relies on the same industrial capacity that is needed to rebuild US military reserves. As a result, Ukraine’s defense needs compete directly with the needs of the US military over the limited capacity of the country’s defense industries.
The second path Quincy is considering is the “Prioritized Requirements List for Ukraine,” known as “PEARL.” The American think tank explains that this program is presented as a mechanism to transfer the financial burden of arming Ukraine from the United States to Europe, meaning that European countries purchase American weapons and then transfer them to Ukraine. NATO member states have so far pledged more than $4 billion to the program, and its volume is expected to reach $15 billion by 2026. Quincy adds that the Pearl program has been widely used for air defense systems and a variety of munitions, and reports indicate that a significant share of the Patriot missiles and air defense capabilities used in Ukraine are supplied through this route.
Limited capacity and the Pentagon at the end of the line
According to Quincy, this has led to European orders taking precedence over Pentagon orders, effectively delaying the fulfillment of the US Department of War’s needs. In some cases, weapons are being taken directly from existing US stockpiles, slowing the process of rebuilding weapons stockpiles and exacerbating shortages.
On the other hand, US production capacity is also limited, with only about 60 Patriot missiles being produced per month. This limited quantity must simultaneously meet Ukraine’s stated needs and global demand, which increases pressure on supply.