Germany insists on US guarantee before dispatching Patriots to Ukraine
Germany Demands US Guarantees for Patriot Replacements
Germany Urges America to Replace Patriot Units Quickly
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told Der Spiegel that European NATO members must receive iron‑clad assurances from the United States that any Patriot anti‑missile batteries sent to Ukraine will be swapped within six to eight months.
Trump Announces Patriot Deal with NATO
President Donald Trump last week struck a deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte for European allies to purchase US‑made Patriot systems for Kyiv, marking a sharp pivot after growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Germany Will Pay for Two Patriots
- Germany has pledged to finance two Patriot batteries.
- Other NATO allies have expressed a willingness to pay for three additional units.
- Washington wants European partners to first hand over Patriot systems from their own inventories, then wait for replacements from the United States.
Ensuring NATO Requirements Remain Met
Pistorius stressed that “the countries transferring systems can continue to meet their NATO requirements and that no security gaps arise for NATO.”
Potential Patriot Suppliers
- Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands have declared their readiness to finance Patriot batteries.
- “No decision has been made as to which country could supply Patriot systems to Ukraine,” Pistorius added.
Ongoing Discussions on Patriot Availability
At a Berlin news conference, Pistorius outlined that talks were ongoing about “which countries in Europe and beyond currently have Patriots, and in what quantities they are willing to hand them over.” He concluded: “There is money for these Patriots. Now we just need the Patriots.”
Germany’s Patriot Inventory
- Germany formerly operated 12 Patriot batteries.
- Three have been sent to Ukraine, two to Poland.
- One battery is dedicated to training, leaving six active units in the German arsenal.
