Keneci Network @kenecifeed
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), reportedly privately warned the Pentagon that he lacks sufficient naval forces to protect Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles, stating he would be forced to prioritize the U.S. homeland without an additional Navy destroyer. This warning, sent in a written letter, highlights severe strain on U.S. military resources as the conflict with Iran enters its fifth month.
Pentagon officials described the memo as a standard "operational risk warning" that commanders issue when competing for scarce global military assets.
The U.S. Navy has five destroyers based in Rota, Spain, with a sixth expected later in the year, but maintenance backlogs due to high operational tempo have reduced availability. Currently, two destroyers are in the eastern Mediterranean, three are in Rota, and one is in the Red Sea, with another fleet operating near Iran.
Sustained engagements shooting down Iranian and Houthi ballistic missiles have rapidly consumed Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and SM-6 interceptors faster than U.S. defense industrial lines can produce them.
U.S. forces, including THAAD and naval interceptors, have shouldered the bulk of defending Israel from Iranian attacks, often more frequently than Israeli systems. Supplies of key defensive weapons, including Patriot missiles, are reportedly depleted.
EUCOM's forward naval footprint relies on five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers based out of Rota, Spain. Two destroyers—the USS Paul Ignatius and USS Roosevelt—were operating in the Mediterranean Sea to shield Israel. Three others (USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkeley, and USS Oscar Austin) were anchored at Rota due to maintenance backlogs resulting from continuous operations.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Navy has deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups (USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln) along with 11 destroyers in the Arabian Sea, plus the USS Gonzalez in the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from Houthi strikes.
EUCOM must balance defending Israel with maintaining readiness against potential Russia incursions into NATO territory, as Russia also possesses ballistic missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland. Keeping destroyers locked into anti-missile duty near Israel dilutes EUCOM’s ability to cover NATO contingencies.
Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz and Trump administration imposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, have forced the Navy to divide assets among the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea, complicating defense commitments.
The warning comes as the Trump administration reportedly plans further escalation, including strikes on Tehran’s electricity infrastructure. The collapse of ceasefire talks has led to near-daily missile exchanges, increasing inflationary concerns and political pressure ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in the U.S.
At Camp David, President Trump told reporters that Iran’s military had been "decimated" but criticized Iranian negotiators as "dishonorable and dishonest" after renewed missile fire targeted U.S. positions in Jordan. When asked if Americans should expect continued back-and-forth military strikes, he acknowledged: "A little bit... We just want to win. They cannot have a nuclear weapon."