United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to address a defense summit at the US Army War College on Wednesday, where he is expected to laud US investments in its armed forces that he has argued have helped add a new edge to history’s most powerful military.

But his speech comes at a time when the US’s war on Iran has significantly depleted the US military’s weapons stockpile. The summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, comes as the US has re-ignited attacks on Iran in the past week, and as Trump has threatened to continue a war that, according to recent US polls, is highly unpopular among Americans facing high costs of living.

The US has expended half of at least four of its most critical munitions since its war on Iran began on February 28, and has racked up billions of dollars in weapons expenses, analysis shows. Replenishing low stockpiles could take anywhere between several months and several years. Analysts warn that a shrinking arsenal could put the US in a less formidable position in a potential future conflict – particularly against China.

Following an April ceasefire and a June memorandum of understanding, the conflict escalated again after US Central Command launched heavy attacks on Iran. Both sides blame each other for violating the ceasefire. At last week’s NATO summit, Trump declared the pact with Iran over. Washington has also reinstated a naval blockade and re-imposed sanctions on Iran.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), US supplies are running low but have not reached a critical level. In 39 days of conflict, the US hit more than 13,000 targets, focusing on seven of its most powerful missiles. For at least four munitions, Washington likely expended more than half of its available stockpiles.

Trump and senior officials have publicly maintained that the US has an “unlimited” supply of weapons. In March, Trump said he met with heads of manufacturers who promised to “quadruple” production. In June, he signed the Defense Production Act to compel faster production. Analysts note that an order compelling private actors to ramp up production likely reflects timeline concerns within the Pentagon.

In the short term, Washington is unlikely to meet demands from its allies. Japan’s order of 400 Tomahawks has been delayed, and Switzerland began negotiations with other countries for a missile defense system. Analysts estimate it could take the US between one and four years to replenish stockpiles to pre-war levels, even as Trump boasts of increased production.

Source: www.aljazeera.com