NATO's top military officers are meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday to tackle a growing crisis: the war in Iran is draining the stockpiles of sophisticated weaponry that underpin Europe's collective defense. The United States, which has shouldered the bulk of the campaign, is burning through vast quantities of advanced munitions, including Patriot interceptor missiles, at a pace that alarms European allies.
Figures released by the Pentagon on 12 May show the Iran conflict has already cost the US military more than $29 billion, with no end in sight. The scale of consumption has raised fears that NATO's ability to replenish these complex systems—critical for deterring Russia and other adversaries—cannot keep up with demand.
Production Gaps Exposed
The meeting, chaired by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich and attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will focus on the urgent need to ramp up weapons production. A senior NATO military source told Euronews that the alliance has long warned about insufficient output since the war in Ukraine began, but the Iran campaign has made the shortfall critical.
“We’ve been saying for years that military production needed to be ramped up exponentially because of the war in Ukraine, but the Iran war has shown us it’s even more important we do this now,” the source said. “We need a lot of resources and munitions and the ability to ramp up production quickly. And we just don’t have that, and we need it very fast.”
The source added that the conflict in Iran, which has choked global supply chains by closing the Strait of Hormuz, underscores why NATO should have boosted output earlier. “Indeed, this is about Iran, but in fact it's also a realisation that we need to be prepared for simultaneous conflicts. We need this at scale, and that’s certainly one of the points SACEUR will be making to allied military chiefs.”
European Consequences
The knock-on effect for Europe is tangible. Many European NATO members have purchased US-made weapons and defense systems for Ukraine, but deliveries are now at risk of delay or cancellation. This compounds existing concerns about Europe's own military readiness, as highlighted by a recent warning from the EU's defence chief that Russia still outpaces Europe in military production.
On 15 May, an air raid warning was issued in Finland after drones were detected entering Finnish airspace, temporarily closing Helsinki Airport and disrupting flights. The incident, though not directly linked to the Iran war, underscores the heightened security environment as Russia continues to threaten NATO members.
Diplomatic Maneuvering
Efforts to end the Iran war through negotiations have stalled. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran that “the clock is ticking,” posting on Truth Social: “They better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” However, on Monday, he said he would hold off on further attacks after Gulf States informed him that “serious negotiations are now taking place.” Trump indicated a deal “very acceptable” to the US was possible, including a commitment from Iran to forgo nuclear weapons.
Another key item on Tuesday's agenda is SACEUR's military assessment of NATO's overall capabilities, including the impact of Washington's recent decision to cancel a planned deployment of over 4,000 troops to Poland. The move was abrupt, with some soldiers and equipment already in transit when the order was reversed.
The meeting comes as NATO allies grapple with the dual challenge of supporting Ukraine while ensuring their own defenses remain credible. The Iran war has laid bare the limits of the alliance's industrial base, and the pressure to act is mounting.
