US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) dismissed concerns that American military stockpiles are being depleted by the ongoing conflict with Iran,
rejecting reports that shortages of key munitions, including missile interceptors, are beginning to constrain US military strategy. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Trump pushed back strongly against claims that dwindling weapons stocks could pose a growing challenge to US defence capabilities. “We have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need,” Trump said. His remarks came amid reports raising questions over the pace at which the US is expending interceptor missiles and other high-demand munitions during the Iran conflict. A report by The New York Times regarding internal administration deliberations noted that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine expressed concerns that interceptor reserves could be exhausted if military operations escalate further. Trump, however, sought to dismiss such concerns, insisting that the US retains a substantial weapons stockpile. According to officials cited by The WSJ, US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper believes American forces can manage the constrained inventory of Patriot and other air defence interceptors. The strategy relies on expanding US strikes, pending approval from Trump, to neutralise Iran's launching capacity before large-scale missile volleys can be initiated.
White House refuses to make number official
At the same time, White House officials warned that publishing updated US government figures detailing Patriot and THAAD missile expenditures since the outbreak of hostilities would pose a risk to national security, according to the report.
Despite official reluctance to release precise data, it highlighted updated estimates by Centre for Strategic and International Studies analysts Mark Cancian and Chris Park, who calculate that at least 1,500 Patriot interceptors have been expended since the conflict began, leaving an estimated inventory of fewer than 1,000 interceptors remaining.
In their initial April report analysing key munitions used in the war, Cancian and Park noted that "the diminished munitions stockpiles have created a near-term risk," warning that "a war against a capable peer competitor like China will consume munitions at greater rates than in this war."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell maintained that the military possesses all necessary resources to execute any mission ordered by the President.
The persistent threat from Iranian missile systems was highlighted last week after three Iranian ballistic missiles struck a base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three US service members after one missile hit a housing area.
(With agency inputs)
