The Pentagon is considering whether to move some weapons originally destined for Ukraine to the Middle East as the war in Iran puts pressure on critical U.S. ammunition stocks, the Washington Post reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
air defense interceptor Weapons under review
Weapons that could redirect include anti-aircraft interceptor missiles ordered through a NATO support program launched last year, under which partner nations buy U.S.-made weapons for Kyiv, the report said.
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No final decision has been made, but the move would highlight the trade-offs Washington faces as it tries to sustain military operations in the Middle East while continuing to support Ukraine, the report said.
NATOPURL plan seen as possible pressure point
The Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program was developed last year to ensure the flow of selected U.S. military equipment to Ukraine even as the Trump administration reduced much of the Pentagon’s direct security assistance to Kyiv.The program allows partner countries to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, and European allies have taken a greater role in funding and arming Ukraine’s military since Trump returned to power.A NATO official, responding to questions from The Washington Post, did not directly answer whether the alliance was aware of concerns about possible diversions, but said countries “continue to contribute to PURL and equipment continues to flow into Ukraine.”The official said the program has supplied 75 percent of Ukraine’s Patriot missile batteries since last summer, as well as nearly all the munitions used by Ukraine’s other air defense systems, the Washington Post reported.
Pentagon says it prioritizes warfighting needs of the United States and its allies
In a statement cited in the report, a Pentagon spokesman said the Department of Defense would “ensure the forces of U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have the resources they need to fight and win,” but did not comment further on internal deliberations.Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, said Kyiv remains in contact with partners on its needs, including air defense, and understands “a period of considerable uncertainty” during the war, The Washington Post reported.“Any disruptions at the start of recent operations in the Middle East have been mitigated,” she said.
iran is Stirring concerns about U.S. inventories
Concerns have grown as U.S. Central Command has struck more than 10,000 targets in less than four weeks in the war in Iran. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command, said on Wednesday that the United States is expected to reduce Tehran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.Some of the most frequently used munitions in the conflict include Patriot and THAAD air defense interceptors, which are also critical to Ukraine as it continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks, the report said.The U.S. military has moved such missiles from other theaters, including Europe and East Asia, to U.S. Central Command in the Middle East to bolster defenses against Iranian drone and ballistic missile attacks.A person familiar with internal Pentagon calculations told The Washington Post that PURL deliveries are likely to continue, but future packages may lack some air defense capabilities as the U.S. seeks to rebuild its own and Gulf allies’ inventories.“The policy debate is about how much money you give to Ukraine,” said another. “This was a real live discussion.”
Funding issues and potential misappropriation of NATO funds
Separately, two U.S. officials cited the Pentagon’s notification to Congress on Monday that it intended to divert about $750 million in funding provided by NATO countries through the PURL program to replenish U.S. military stockpiles rather than provide additional aid to Ukraine.It’s unclear whether participating European governments fully understand what the money will be used for.Countries have pledged about $4 billion to Ukraine through the program, according to a U.S. official.The report comes as Iran’s war continues to reshape global military and diplomatic calculations.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a deal to end Iran’s war was close, even as Tehran rejected a U.S. 15-point ceasefire proposal and made its own demands while launching new attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states.Iran’s foreign minister later told state television that “so far there have been no negotiations with the enemy, nor do we intend to have any negotiations.”So far, the fighting has killed more than 1,500 people in Iran, nearly 1,100 people in Lebanon, 20 people in Israel, and 13 US military personnel.