"US Deploys All Patriot Batteries, Including Those Scheduled for Airshow, to the Middle East"

Battery originally to be deployed in Guam moved to Middle East
Middle East deployment battery doubled compared to before
Possibility of weakened power in China encirclement network

As clashes between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas show signs of prolonged conflict, controversy is arising as the United States concentrates Patriot missile batteries in the Middle East to defend Israeli airspace. With all major defense forces being concentrated in the Middle East, concerns are emerging that deterrence capabilities against hostile countries, such as the containment of China in Asia, may weaken.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 12th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing a senior U.S. Department of Defense official, that the Pentagon has doubled the number of Patriot batteries deployed in the Middle East from six to twelve over the past two weeks. This move is interpreted as a measure to focus more defense power on protecting Israeli airspace amid the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Accordingly, WSJ pointed out that all Patriot batteries originally scheduled to be deployed in other regions were redirected to the Middle East to rapidly dispatch Patriot forces there. According to WSJ, the U.S. military changed plans to showcase Patriot batteries at the Dubai Airshow, one of the world's largest defense exhibitions opening on the 13th, and instead deployed them to the Middle East. Additionally, Patriot batteries that were to be additionally deployed to Guam and Hawaii were also sent to the Middle East.

The Patriot battery refers to an air defense system developed in the 1980s by the American defense contractor Raytheon (now RTX), encompassing the entire system for launching and operating mobile surface-to-air missiles to form an air defense network.

Currently, the United States possesses 60 Patriot batteries, which are known to be deployed in at least 17 countries. Recently, Patriot batteries were supplied to Ukraine to counter the Russian invasion, and Jordan, a U.S. ally in the Middle East, reportedly requested Patriot support.

The U.S. military is also reportedly recruiting additional personnel to operate the Patriot batteries concentrated in the Middle East. Although the military has not disclosed how many personnel have been newly added or the specific locations of deployment, WSJ reported, "Through U.S. Army recruitment notices for Patriot unit technicians, it can be seen that Patriot units in the Middle East are operating in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia."

However, with all Patriot batteries concentrated in the Middle East, there are serious concerns about significant setbacks to the U.S. Asia strategy, which aimed to form a containment network against China. WSJ noted, "The previous deployment of Patriot batteries differed from the trend of redeploying defense networks from the Middle East to the Pacific to check China," adding, "This especially leaves the Pacific more exposed to risks."

Doug Lamborn, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee and a member of the Republican Party, also warned in an interview with WSJ, "There could be concerns about the U.S. ability to provide air defense in regions other than the Middle East."