The Pentagon is considering redirecting arms originally intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, where the war in Iran has depleted American ammunition stocks, according to the Washington Post.
This change in strategy would specifically involve the missile interceptors for air defense ordered under the NATO PURL program, say three sources close to the matter. Launched last year, this program allows partner countries to buy American weapons for Kiev, bypassing direct aid reductions under the Trump administration.
Since Trump took office, European countries have funded and armed Ukraine, especially through PURL. These countries have committed around $4 billion (€3.47 billion) for Ukraine under this program. However, with the conflict in the Middle East and the rapid consumption of American ammunition, deliveries to Ukraine could be affected.
Les systèmes Patriot et THAAD déjà redirigés vers le Moyen-Orient
In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense “will ensure that U.S. forces, as well as allied and partner forces, have everything they need to fight and win,” without further comment. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the continuity of deliveries of vital equipment to Ukraine.
A European official stated that only future shipments would be affected. “The United States is consuming ammunition quickly, so the question now is how much they can still provide under this agreement,” he said. Ukrainian ambassador Olga Stefanishyna acknowledged a “period of uncertainty,” while noting that “disruptions encountered at the beginning of recent operations in the Middle East have been mitigated.”
Highly sought after by Ukraine, the Patriot and THAAD systems, advanced air defense interceptors, have already been redirected by the United States to the Central Command in the Middle East to counter Iranian threats. A Pentagon source indicated that future deliveries may therefore not include air defense equipment.
