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The extensive use of advanced weaponry in the war against Iran has severely depleted U.S. military stockpiles, limiting Washington’s ability to deter threats from China and Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Military planners have expressed concern that the resource drain has forced U.S. European Command, which is responsible for American military operations across Europe, to adjust its operational plans, according to the report.
U.S. officials assessed that Washington could not fully execute contingency plans to defend Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by China, if a military operation were to occur in the short term.
Moving air defense units to the Middle East from Japan, South Korea and Germany has created “soft spots” in the U.S. global military posture that could take years to refill, officials said.
Inventories in Europe of PAC-3 Patriot interceptors and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are considered to be at “beyond critical” levels, some officials claimed.
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile interceptors and counter-drone systems have also been redirected to the Middle East, further reducing supplies in Europe.
The moves have sharply restricted the ability of Western nations to send interceptors to Ukraine as Russian missile attacks continue.
The White House and the Pentagon have denied that the U.S. military is facing a shortage of munitions.
The Trump administration said the U.S. military maintains enough resources to serve all of President Donald Trump’s goals.
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