Does Europe regret its bet on U.S. defense?

Europe bet big on American defense technology and they're now paying the price. Years-long backlogs are underway due to production delays and the U.S. own military needs.

<img src='undefined' alt='Visitors queue to take a closer look at a Patriot missile launcher during the Armed Forces Day at the Airbase in Laage, Germany, on June 06, 2026. Along with nine other locations, Laage hosts the Armed Forces Day 2026.'/><p>Europe bet big on American defense technology and they're now paying the price. Years-long backlogs are underway due to production delays and the U.S. own military needs.</p><p>(Image credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6039196' />