Associated Press: U.S. forces in Europe do not have enough Patriots to stop a sustained Russian ballistic attack, and ‘very limited’ ability to stop even a single strike
The U.S. military is facing a “beyond critical” shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe, a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The shortage, they said, stems largely from the war in the Middle East.
U.S. forces stationed in Europe are grappling with a "beyond critical" shortage of Patriot missiles, according to multiple defense sources. This crisis is largely attributed to the ongoing war in the Middle East, raising concerns about the vulnerability of NATO countries to potential Russian attacks. A U.S. official emphasized that a Russian ballistic missile strike on military installations or power plants could leave NATO in the same predicament as Ukraine.
The official also stated that American forces simply do not possess enough Patriots to deter a sustained ballistic missile assault, with their ability to counter a single stray missile also deemed "very limited." Although a European intelligence official in February suggested Russia would refrain from open conflict with NATO this year or next, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated in June 2025 that Moscow would be prepared to strike within five years.
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