US and NATO officials told the Associated Press that stocks of advanced missile-defence systems in Europe have fallen sharply because of the Iran war, with Patriot interceptor shortages described as the most serious concern. A US defence official deployed in Europe said available Patriots could not sustain a prolonged ballistic-missile attack and that capacity even against a single attack is now limited.

Officials said extensive interceptor use by the United States and its allies in the Middle East, including transfers of some European stocks, contributed to the reported shortage. Earlier Patriot deliveries to Ukraine also reduced US inventories. The shortfall has raised concern over NATO countries’ vulnerability to possible Russian ballistic-missile attacks, although such an attack is not considered imminent.

NATO and the Pentagon disputed the severity of the claims. NATO spokesperson Colonel Martin O’Donnell said European defence capability had not reached a critical level and that sufficient weapons remained for NATO defence and support for Ukraine. The Pentagon rejected claims of an inventory crisis as false. Experts said alternatives are limited; France and Italy’s SAMP/T NG could provide some help but has shorter range than Patriot and its newer version has not been battle-tested.