A serious scandal has erupted within the US administration regarding a critical shortage of ammunition. According to The Washington Post, President Donald Trump expressed deep disappointment and demanded explanations from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the state of the arsenals. The incident occurred behind the scenes during a cabinet meeting at Camp David.
The main cause of the conflict is an acute shortage of long-range guided missiles and surface-to-air interceptor missiles. Sources indicate that this deficit was the decisive factor that forced the President to abandon plans for additional massive strikes on Iran in recent days. Trump accused the Pentagon chief of likely misleading him about the actual state of weapon stocks.
Internal Contradictions in the Pentagon
During the meeting, Pete Hegseth attempted to defend his reputation by shifting the blame to his deputy, Steven Fineberg. According to the Secretary, it was Fineberg who failed to provide the President with complete and accurate information about the shortage. However, this exchange only highlighted Trump's growing disappointment with his Defense Secretary.
Hegseth was previously one of the main proponents of military action against Iran, convincing the President that the conflict would end in a quick and relatively easy victory. Now, reality has hit a dead end due to logistical problems. In July, during Senate hearings, Hegseth also refused to discuss his advice, blaming any shortages on the actions of the previous Biden administration rather than current operations.
Global Consequences of the Shortage
The ammunition situation extends far beyond the Middle East. The lack of interceptor missiles is changing the US approach to decision-making regarding the use of force against looming threats. The shortage of defensive assets is already affecting Ukraine's security, making the country more vulnerable to attacks from Russia.
According to CNN, the US military has expended nearly 80% of its THAAD air defense missiles compared to pre-war levels during the war with Iran, as well as about half of its Patriot interceptor missiles. Reuters reports that stocks of high-precision long-range surface-to-air missiles, including ATACMS, PrSM, and Tomahawk, are practically exhausted.
Contradictory Data
There is a gap between announcements of new deals and the reality in the warehouses. Although the US has announced new contracts for the production of critical ammunition, such as Patriot surface-to-air missiles, the production process itself can take up to two years. This means that the shortage situation will not improve in the near future, despite official promises.
Thus, the US administration faces a difficult choice: either revise its military strategies or wait years for the arsenals to be replenished, which could be fatal given the current conflicts.
