©picture alliance / newscom | BONNIE CASH
The United States is pausing its attacks on Iran, and according to multiple reports, a severe shortage of certain types of ammunition is a factor. This is reported by BBC News and Reuters. President Donald Trump denies that there is a genuine shortage, but both within and outside his administration, the impression is growing that stocks of crucial interceptor missiles and precision-guided weapons are under strain.
This situation follows weeks of intense violence, during which the U.S., according to its own estimates, struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran and intercepted over 1,700 Iranian drones and ballistic missiles. Think of Tomahawk missiles, Patriot interceptors, and THAAD systems: expensive, advanced, and difficult to replace quickly. Researchers at CSIS estimate that it will take years for some systems to return to their previous stock levels.
President tries to squelch criticism
Trump himself said Monday that the U.S. “has far more ammunition than anyone else in the world” and more than enough for its own operations. Nevertheless, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress last week that the Pentagon needs an additional $87 billion to address “critical shortages.”
The debate extends beyond Iran, however. In Washington, there is concern that depleted stockpiles will make the U.S. more vulnerable in a future conflict in the Pacific, particularly with regard to Taiwan and China’s military buildup. For Ukraine, this tension has been palpable for some time. There, too, support for allies and the protection of U.S. stockpiles are at odds. At the same time, not everyone sees the pause as a sign of weakness. Proponents argue that deploying weapons also serves as a deterrent and demonstrates that Washington is prepared to use them. According to the White House, the operation has above all made it clear what happens when you challenge the United States.
©picture alliance / newscom | BONNIE CASH