RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: 🇷🇺🇺🇸 U.S. intelligence reportedly thinks the Iran war may have given Putin a short window to test NATO. The U.S. has spent 6 months burning through munitions in Iran, moved air defenses into the Gulf, and told European allies to take on more of their own defense. It’s not like America is suddenly weak, but more about the fact that Moscow may think U.S. attention and firepower are split enough right now to take more risks. The biggest issue is air-defense missiles. A CSIS estimate put expenditure at 1,060 to 1,430 Patriots, while later CSIS updates put the drawdown closer to 1,500, about two-thirds of the prewar stock. Exact inventories stay classified. Lon

🇷🇺🇺🇸 U.S. intelligence reportedly thinks the Iran war may have given Putin a short window to test NATO.

The U.S. has spent 6 months burning through munitions in Iran, moved air defenses into the Gulf, and told European allies to take on more of their own defense.

It’s not like America is suddenly weak, but more about the fact that Moscow may think U.S. attention and firepower are split enough right now to take more risks.

The biggest issue is air-defense missiles.

A CSIS estimate put expenditure at 1,060 to 1,430 Patriots, while later CSIS updates put the drawdown closer to 1,500, about two-thirds of the prewar stock. Exact inventories stay classified.

Long-range strike missiles like Tomahawks and ATACMS, plus other interceptors such as THAAD, are also under pressure.

The Pentagon disputes claims of shortages, but large numbers of interceptors have clearly been moved from Europe to the Middle East, and replacing them takes time.

That’s also the context behind CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow, the first by a CIA chief since just before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

He reportedly warned Moscow against attacking a NATO member and pushed Russia to pull back from Iran.

U.S. intelligence assessments outline possible Russian probes ranging from cyberattacks and unmarked troops to a limited move on NATO’s eastern flank, possibly anytime from this fall to 2029.

A Russian land grab is still considered unlikely, but less unlikely than it was. Make of that what you will.

Sources: WSJ, Washington Post, Politico, OilPrice / Writer: Julie

— @MarioNawfal Sep 1, 2026