NYT: US risks losing edge in deterring China amid ongoing Middle East conflicts

The U.S. may lose its ability to deter China due to its ongoing involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Yemen.

Senior U.S. military officials are increasingly concerned that the Pentagon will soon have to relocate long-range precision weapons from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East due to active combat operations and the constant use of munitions in military campaigns, Caliber.Az reports, citing The New York Times.

According to sources from Congress, this is a result of the significant strain on U.S. armed forces due to the conflicts in the Middle East, particularly from the bombing campaign in Yemen.

The deployment of U.S. military ships and aircraft to the Middle East after the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, as well as attacks by Houthi militants on vessels in the Red Sea, has led to a substantial reduction in U.S. readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

The high operational tempo and constant attacks are forcing U.S. forces to operate under conditions where even basic equipment maintenance becomes problematic.

Assistants to President Trump, such as Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, have stated that the U.S. should focus on strengthening its forces in Asia to deter China's growing military ambitions.

They emphasize that support for Ukraine and prolonged military campaigns in the Middle East have exhausted U.S. resources, leaving the U.S. less prepared for new conflicts in the region.

By Khagan Isayev