Overview

• The Atlantic reports that the Pentagon has identified short-supply systems and is moving to block new European requests, with few exemptions.
• On an early September call, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby questioned the value of some foreign sales and opposed selling Patriots to Denmark due to scarcity, according to officials.
• Denmark dropped plans for U.S. Patriots and signed a $9.1 billion purchase for a Franco-Italian long-range air-defense system and other European options for medium range.
• Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson called claims of a secret unilateral cutoff absurd, while State Department counselor Michael Needham rejected suggestions of an interagency rift.
• Defense officials say the U.S. holds about 25% of required Patriot interceptors after heavy wartime use, and experts warn restrictions could weaken allied defenses and accelerate a pivot to European suppliers.