华盛顿方面警告盟友，由于美国库存转向中东战场，已签约的弹药交付可能会推迟，这使得一些欧洲合作伙伴面临风险。美国官员提醒其欧洲同行，由于在与伊方的对抗中消耗了大量库存，根据此前签署合同的部分军火交付可能会出现延误。据消息人士透露，这可能会影响到包括波罗的海地区和斯堪的纳维亚半岛在内的多个欧洲国家。
涉及延迟的主要是根据美国对外军事销售（FMS）计划购买但尚未交付的武器。消息人士未指明具体受影响的国家，其中部分国家与俄罗斯接壤，这解释了信息为何处于保密状态。交付涉及多种类型的弹药，包括攻击性和防御性用途。
这凸显了美方及以方针对伊方的军事行动正如何消耗美国至关重要的武器和弹药库存。欧洲官员也表示担心交付延迟会使他们处于困难境地。在FMS计划下，各国在美国政府的后勤支持和许可下购买美制武器。过去几年，美国曾敦促北约欧洲伙伴通过FMS购买更多美制武器，试图将欧洲防御的部分责任转嫁给欧洲伙伴。
然而，此类交付经常延误，引发欧洲国家的不满，官员们正越来越多地考虑采购欧洲制造的武器。美国官员强调，这些武器是中东战争所急需的，并指责欧洲国家未能协助美方和以方解除霍尔木兹海峡的封锁。甚至在当前局势之前，美国的武器库存就已经面临巨大压力。
Washington cautioned allies that contracted munitions may be deferred as US stocks shift to a Middle East campaign, leaving some European partners exposed.
American officials warned their European colleagues that part of the United States’ arms deliveries under previously signed contracts could be delayed due to exhausted stockpiles amid the war with Iran. It is noted that this could affect several European countries, including those in the Baltic region and Scandinavia, according to sources cited.
Part of the weapons purchased under the United States’ Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program but not yet delivered, and it is these shipments that are likely to be delayed.
Sources did not name specific countries affected by the delays. Some of them border Russia, which may explain the secrecy surrounding the information. The deliveries involve various types of munitions, including those that can be used for both offense and defense.
This underscores how the American-Israeli campaign against Iran, which began on February 28, is draining U.S. stockpiles of critically important weapons and munitions.
European officials are also expressing concern that the delivery delays put them in a difficult position.
Under the FMS program, countries purchase U.S.-made weapons with logistical support and the consent of the U.S. government. In previous years, the United States urged NATO European partners to buy more U.S.-made weapons through FMS, seeking to shift some of the responsibility for Europe’s defense onto European partners.
However, such deliveries are often delayed, causing disappointment in European capitals, where officials are increasingly considering options for European-made weapons.
American officials emphasize that the weapons are needed for the war in the Middle East, and they accuse European countries of not helping the United States and Israel to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Even before the current war with Iran, the United States depleted weapon stocks worth billions of dollars, including artillery systems, ammunition, and anti-tank missiles, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Israel’s military operations in Gaza in late 2023.
Since the start of the U.S.-Israel operation against Iran, Tehran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones toward the Gulf states. Most of them were shot down, including by PAC-3 Patriot interceptors, which Ukraine, for example, relies on to defend against Russian shelling.
Earlier it was reported that the Pentagon planned to move weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the end of March that such a decision had not been made, but warned: if a situation arises where the United States must replenish stocks or carry out missions in its national interests, America’s needs will always come first.
Context and implications for Europe
Ongoing debates about the balance between supporting NATO and America’s domestic needs highlight the
