UK Media: US Informs European Allies of Delayed Weapon Deliveries
Reference News Network reported on May 4 According to a report from the Financial Times website on May 1, Washington has warned its European allies, including the UK, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia, that the delivery of U.S. weapons will face long delays as the U.S. is busy replenishing stocks depleted by the war with Iran.
Several informed sources have revealed that the Pentagon has informed these countries that multiple missile systems will face significant delivery delays. Additionally, discussions are ongoing about postponing weapon deliveries to Asia.
These delays are partly due to U.S. concerns about its own inventory levels, as a large amount of weapons has been consumed in the war against Iran over the past two months. To make up for the inventory shortfall, the U.S. military has been forced to reallocate weapons from other regions, including the Indo-Pacific.
The report states that, in addition to causing panic in several European countries, these delivery delays are also bad news for Ukraine. There are widespread concerns about the sustainability of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
The delayed deliveries will affect the supply of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), and other missile systems. Among them, the HIMARS that has been deployed to the Ukrainian battlefield is a high mobility artillery rocket system manufactured by Lockheed Martin; NASAMS is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system jointly produced by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg.
The delays in weapon deliveries occur amid heightened tensions in transatlantic relations. Former President Trump had previously harshly criticized European allies for not providing sufficient support for U.S. military actions against Iran. Several sources have indicated that the delays are not intended to punish Europe, but rather stem from genuine concerns about U.S. inventory shortages.
Tom Wright, a former Biden administration official and current researcher at the Brookings Institution, stated: “The Pentagon may now need to engage in a long-term war in the Middle East while urgently needing to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. To this end, the U.S. is fully willing to sacrifice European interests. Europe must urgently rebuild its own defense industrial base.” (Translation/ Xu Yanhong)
The U.S. Department of Defense warned European allies, including the UK, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia, of significant delays in weapon deliveries due to the need to replenish stocks depleted during the conflict with Iran. This delay affects critical systems such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), raising concerns about the sustainability of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The situation has caused panic among European nations and highlights ongoing tensions in transatlantic relations.
- U.S. warned European allies of long delays in weapon deliveries due to stock replenishment needs after the Iran conflict.
- Pentagon informed allies including the UK, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia about the delays.
- Delays affect systems like HIMARS and NASAMS, which are critical for Ukraine.
- Concerns raised about the sustainability of U.S. aid to Ukraine due to these delays.
- The situation arises amid tensions in transatlantic relations.