NATO military chiefs gathered at headquarters in Brussels Tuesday to confront a stark reality: the alliance's arsenal is rapidly depleting due to the ongoing war in Iran, and production cannot keep pace.
The Pentagon reports the conflict has already cost the US military more than $29 billion since May 12, with no end in sight. The vast consumption of high-quality munitions, including Patriot defense systems, alarms allies who question if such hardware can be replenished in time.
The meeting, led by Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich and attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will assess the impact on collective capabilities as Russia continues to threaten allies.
Adding urgency, Finland issued an air raid warning on May 15 after drones entered its airspace, temporarily closing Helsinki Airport. "We need the ability to ramp up production quickly, and we just don't have that yet," a senior NATO source stated.
The ripple effect for Europe: US weapons purchased by NATO members for Ukraine may not arrive on time.
Meanwhile, efforts to end the war falter. President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Sunday the "clock is ticking," then delayed action Monday after Gulf States reported serious negotiations. Trump asserts a potential deal includes no nuclear weapons for Iran.
SACEUR will also assess the impact of Washington's abrupt decision to cancel a 4,000-troop brigade deployment to Poland.