From NPR · · 2m
Europe's risky bet on American missiles
European countries bought U.S. defense systems to stay close to America. Now they're stuck waiting for missiles that aren't coming.
In brief
European countries bought U.S. defense systems to stay close to America. Now they're stuck waiting for missiles that aren't coming. European nations dependent on U.S. Patriot systems face major missile shortages due to production delays and American military needs in Iran, leaving them vulnerable to Russian threats…
Europe's defense strategy
Over the past decade, European countries increasingly relied on U.S. technology for air defense systems, including fighter jets and Patriot missile defense systems that intercept ballistic missiles.
Why it seemed like a good idea
U.S. defense technology is high-quality and readily available. Buying American also keeps the U.S. committed to European defense, which seemed strategically important.
The problem emerges
The assumption that U.S. missiles would be readily available turned out to be wrong. There is a major backlog of missiles while demand keeps rising across Europe.
Why the backlog exists
Production delays and the U.S. military's own needs in Iran are consuming missile supplies. European countries cannot access the quantities they expected when they made their purchases.
Locked into one supplier
European countries that bought Patriot systems cannot switch to another supplier to get missiles. They are dependent on American production and American priorities.
The security risk
While the U.S. focuses on the Iran war, Russian threats still loom large in Europe. European nations now face delays and higher costs while their security depends on American deliveries.
A missed opportunity
In 2022, calls to invest in homegrown European air defense systems were ignored. The strategic gap is now all too visible, according to analysis from Bruegel.
“Calls to Europeanise the funding and ordering of air defense systems were ignored and the strategic gap is now all too visible.”
Trump forced the issue
No previous president predicted the extent to which Trump would damage U.S.-Europe relations. But Trump is the first to really force Europe to confront its dependence on America.
A longer-term problem
Business journalist Paddy Hirsch argues Europe needs to wean itself off American defense regardless of Trump. There is no telling how U.S. and European interests will diverge over the next few decades.
“Europe desperately needs to wean itself off the U.S. teat, and not just because of the unpredictability of a Presidential whim.”
The unintended favor
Trump's pressure on Europe to reduce dependence on U.S. defense is actually doing Europe a favor, according to Hirsch. It forces a reckoning Europe should have had years ago.
“He was doing Europe a favor!”
In short
European nations dependent on U.S. Patriot systems face major missile shortages due to production delays and American military needs in Iran, leaving them vulnerable to Russian threats.
