Russia, China could take advantage of low US weapons stockpiles to start war with America - NYT
Sources told the NYT that the shortage could last beyond the Trump administration’s tenure in office, leaving future presidencies vulnerable to Russian and Chinese attacks.
The United States is facing a potential strategic disadvantage as its weapons stockpiles dwindle, according to a recent report by the New York Times. The country's rapid depletion of offensive and defensive weapons during its war against Iran has raised concerns among defense experts and senior officials. Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that the reduced munitions supply could embolden Russia and China to launch a hot conflict against the United States, as they might not have to contend with the same level of deterrence.
The Pentagon has been forced to reallocate troops and equipment from Asia and Europe to the Middle East due to the shortage. This has led to significant consequences for troop morale and equipment maintenance. In addition, the low stockpile has caused tension between President Donald Trump and the Pentagon, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, reportedly seeking off-ramps for the conflict.
US defense contractors are ramping up production and expanding their plants to address the issue, but it is unclear if this will be enough to keep pace with the depleted arsenal. The shortage has also raised concerns in Asia and Europe, with Ukraine feeling the impact as it struggles to defend against Russian attacks due to a lack of interceptor missiles.
Meanwhile, Russia and China have reportedly recognized the US's dwindling stockpiles as an opportunity for themselves, particularly in the context of a potential Chinese takeover of Taiwan.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
