German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is urging European allies to contribute further Patriot air defense systems to support Ukraine, while simultaneously demanding firm commitments from the United States regarding the replacement of batteries delivered.
Speaking ahead of a high-level military expert discussion involving NATO member states scheduled for this Wednesday, Pistorius emphasized the need for a proposal that enjoys broad acceptance, respects NATO obligations and safeguards national security. He indicated that additional concessions from the U.S. would be necessary to facilitate these commitments.
He expressed the expectation that NATO will engage with the U.S. to ensure that countries donating Patriot systems receive replacements within a matter of months. This assurance, he stressed, must be “watertight”. Pistorius stated that he had recently held intensive discussions with the leadership of the U.S. manufacturer to accelerate production and delivery timelines.
Pistorius has consistently maintained that the German armed forces can only transfer additional Patriot systems from their own inventory if Germany receives new systems from the United States in return. He clarified that this timeframe is measured in months, not years.
Maintaining adherence to NATO commitments remains a paramount concern. Pistorius underscored the importance of avoiding “significant gaps” in Germany’s air defense capabilities that could jeopardize national and allied security. This includes not only the current operational readiness of the air defense, but also the continued capability to provide training on Patriot systems, which requires a minimum number of functional units.
