Washington, 04 September (H.S.): US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will seek reimbursement from European allies for munitions supplied to Ukraine under the Joe Biden administration, even as Washington faces mounting pressure on its own defense stockpiles amid the protracted war in Iran.

Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, accused his predecessor of giving away “hundreds of billions of dollars” in arms to Ukraine and NATO “free of charge,” insisting that Europe should have borne the cost. “We will be asking for that money, though somewhat belatedly,” he wrote, framing the move as a correction to what he described as Biden’s mismanagement.

The statement comes at a time when U.S. military inventories are under strain. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Pentagon has expended nearly 1,500 Patriot air‑defense interceptors since the onset of the Iran conflict, leaving fewer than 1,000 in reserve. Stocks of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors have also dropped sharply, from 452 to below 300.

Despite these figures, Trump dismissed reports of shortages as “treasonous,” asserting that the U.S. possesses “virtually unlimited amounts of mid to high‑grade ammunition.” He claimed the administration is rebuilding reserves by prioritizing domestic needs over foreign sales. “The people and media outlets that keep harping on the fact that we have no ammunition… are actually treasonous,” he charged, adding that critics “would rather see the United States lose a war that we’re easily winning, than see me win.”

The remarks underscore the dual challenge facing Washington: sustaining military aid to Ukraine while prosecuting a costly war in Iran. Analysts warn that the demand for munitions across two theaters could reshape transatlantic burden‑sharing, with Europe likely pressed to shoulder greater responsibility.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sachin Budhauliya