Foreign media outlets have reported that Russia and China are closely monitoring the United States as its weapon stockpiles have been depleted to a "worrying level" due to the conflict with Iran.
Some experts point out that the longer the war with Iran drags on, the more favorable conditions are created for China and Russia to take bold actions.
The New York Times reported that nearly six months of US bombing campaigns against Iran have consumed thousands of expensive missiles that take years to manufacture, leaving US air defense missile stockpiles depleted.
Citing US officials, the report added that the current inventory of Patriot missiles has dropped below 1,700.
Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US think tank, described the situation as a "generational ruination of conventional deterrence," warning that "this cannot fail to have a major impact on the calculations of China and Russia."
Knowing that it will take years for the US to rebuild its military power, China and Russia could take very "deliberate" actions at a time of their choosing, according to the analysis.
While the White House and the US Department of Defense have officially denied any weapons shortages, foreign media pointed out that the fallout from weapon deficits is already evident in the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed on August 5 that "the volume of air defense missiles provided by Western allies has dropped to one-third of last year's level." In response, US President Donald Trump claimed that "we need missiles ourselves," attributing the US military's weapon shortages to support provided by the previous administration.
According to US officials with knowledge of defense intelligence, China and Russia have been closely tracking and estimating US weapon inventories using reconnaissance satellites as well as public data, and are well aware that it will take time for the US to replenish its stocks.
The New York Times also reported that "many long-range weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles essential for a war with China, have been transferred to the Middle East," adding that the long-term impact of weapon depletion is expected to be felt most acutely in Asia.
A US government official reportedly stated that as the Department of Defense redeploys tactical surveillance assets to the Middle East and withdraws air defense networks, US Forces Korea would become increasingly vulnerable in the event of a war with North Korea.
(Reported by Jeong Gyeong-yun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.