The United States suspends the sale of armament systems to European allies. Patriot's anti -aircraft defense system, among the targeted equipment

The United States has begun to suspend the sale of armament systems, including Patriot anti -aircraft defense systems, to European allies, invoking limited stocks and the need to prioritize the requirements of their own army, reports TVPWORLD.

According to The Atlantic, the change first appeared during the negotiations with Denmark for the purchase of air defense systems. After weeks of discussions with American and French suppliers, the Pentagon suddenly withdrew the offer on Patriot systems.

Later, Copenhagen signed a $ 9.1 billion contract with a Franco-Italian consortium.

According to American officials, the deputy head of the Pentagon, Elbridge Colby, asked the State Department to block the sale, arguing that these systems, which are limited, must be reserved for internal needs.

Since then, the Pentagon has identified other types of armament with limited availability and is preparing to stop exports, but the extent and duration of suspension remain unclear.

Ukraine's weapons, covered by a separate program, are not affected.

Colby claimed that the United States should make reserves of critical systems in preparing a potential conflict with China, a vision lined up with the “FIRST America” ​​defense priorities.

Sources quoted by The Atlantic have said that the US currently own about a quarter of the patriotic batteries needed for operational planning.

The retired colonel of the Navy, Mark Cancian, warned that the suspension involves both strategic and political risks for NATO allies, many of them having exhausted arsenals after deliveries to Ukraine. “We put pressure on Europeans to send equipment to Ukraine and then we refuse the necessary tools to restore their own defense capabilities,” said Cancian.

This policy also has economic consequences, being able to reduce the income of American defense companies, while creating new opportunities for European producers, as seen in the recent acquisition made by Denmark.

Analysts warn that this change could be a break from the decade practice of the United States, whereby armament sales supported both industry and alliances.