War with Iran Drains US, Giving Russia and China an Advantage

The prolonged war with Iran is depleting America's stockpiles of critical weapons, which could take years to replenish. The expenditure of missiles, including over 1,500 Patriot interceptors, and the diversion of resources from other theaters are reducing the US ability to deter in Europe and Asia. Russia and China are closely monitoring the situation, gaining a strategic advantage.

The prolonged US military campaign against Iran is depleting American stockpiles of critical weapons, which could take years to replenish, creating a strategic advantage for Russia and China. This was reported by the publication "Kursor" citing The New York Times. American forces have used thousands of missiles of various types, including over 1,500 Patriot interceptors, whose production cannot be quickly increased. Replenishing Patriot stocks could take about two years. Washington is forced to redirect resources intended for Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East, weakening its deterrence capabilities in other regions. In Asia, this has affected long-range missiles and intelligence assets, raising questions about the US ability to respond to crises around Taiwan or on the Korean Peninsula. In Europe, the volume of Western air defense missile deliveries to Ukraine in 2026 has significantly decreased. Analysts note that Moscow and Beijing are closely monitoring the situation, assessing the rate of ammunition expenditure and the timeline for stockpile replenishment. The White House and the Pentagon insist on maintaining combat readiness, but analysts point to the difference between conducting individual operations and maintaining stockpiles for simultaneously deterring multiple adversaries.