U.S. officials have reportedly informed recipient countries that some contracted deliveries will not be completed on schedule. The delays affect equipment and munitions produced under the Foreign Military Sales programme.
The report said the conflict with Iran has significantly depleted U.S. military stockpiles. The operation, which began on February 28, has led to high consumption of various types of ammunition.
Particular pressure has been placed on guided air defence missiles used in systems such as Patriot. However, the impact is not limited to a single category of munitions.
A recently agreed ceasefire is considered fragile, with reports of violations by all parties involved. This has raised concerns about a possible resumption of hostilities and continued demand for military supplies.
Several European countries are expected to be affected by the delays. Officials in Lithuania and Estonia have confirmed receiving information from Washington regarding potential disruptions.
Hanno Pevkur said that delays could also affect ammunition deliveries for the M142 HIMARS system. He stated that supplies for Estonia have effectively been halted.
He added that there is hope deliveries will resume as soon as possible. However, he said it is not currently possible to determine a timeline for when shipments will restart.
The report indicated that if the conflict continues or intensifies, additional countries could face similar delays. The situation reflects broader pressures on U.S. defence production and inventory levels.
Source: Reuters.
