US to delay weapons deliveries to some European countries due to Iran war, sources say

The protracted war against Iran is beginning to strain United States military supplies, leading to reported delays in previously contracted weapons deliveries to several European nations. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that countries in the Baltic and Scandinavian regions are likely to be impacted, highlighting the global ripple effects of sustained military engagements.

These delays, communicated through recent bilateral messages from US officials to their European counterparts, affect weapons purchased under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program that have not yet been delivered. This situation is particularly frustrating for European allies, who have been encouraged by the US, particularly under the Trump administration, to increase their procurement of American-made materiel as part of a broader strategy to shift Europe's conventional defense burden onto its own partners.

The Pentagon has not yet officially commented on the matter, with the White House and State Department referring inquiries. However, the delays serve as a stark reminder of the significant drawdown in US weapons stockpiles. Even before the current conflict, US supplies had been depleted by the war in Ukraine starting in 2022 and Israel's military operations in Gaza in late 2023. The ongoing war against Iran, which began with US-Israeli air strikes on February 28, has further exacerbated this depletion, stretching US resources thin.

US officials reportedly attribute the need for these weapons to the war in the Middle East and criticize European nations for not doing more to assist in opening the Strait of Hormuz. This perspective places additional pressure on European allies, who are already grappling with the implications of delayed military hardware. The situation is prompting some European countries to increasingly consider weapons systems manufactured within Europe, signaling a potential shift in defense procurement strategies amidst these supply chain challenges.