In a significant shift in military strategy, the Pentagon has redirected key missile components originally intended for Ukraine’s air defense to American forces in the Middle East. This move, reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes as US President Donald Trump has been reevaluating support for Ukraine since taking office. The decision affects proximity fuzes used in the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a guided rocket system that Ukraine has used to shoot down drones.

These fuzes were acquired under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, launched during former President Joe Biden’s term. Although the initiative’s funding has been spent, previously approved shipments are still scheduled to arrive in Ukraine later this year and next. However, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the transfer of the fuzes via an internal memo, designating it as a pressing issue. The US Air Force plans to use the reallocated fuzes in rockets mounted on F-16 and F-15E fighter jets, permitted under an emergency military spending bill passed last year.

According to Celeste Wallander, a senior Defense Department official during the Biden administration, the systems have been vital to Ukraine’s air defense. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to protect US personnel and bases in the Middle East from Houthi and potentially Iranian drone attacks. This development follows Hegseth’s absence from a NATO meeting focused on coordinating military aid to Ukraine, marking the first time a Pentagon head has missed such a gathering. The move also aligns with President Trump’s criticism of continued US involvement in the Ukraine conflict and his push for a diplomatic resolution.

Russian officials have consistently condemned foreign arms shipments to Kiev, arguing that they will not alter the war’s course but instead lead to further escalation and casualties. As the situation unfolds, the redirection of these missile components underscores the complex and evolving nature of global military strategies and alliances. The decision’s implications for Ukraine’s air defense and the broader geopolitical landscape will likely be subject to ongoing scrutiny and debate.