Pentagon warns of depleted US military resources as global conflicts strain defence

The Pentagon has expressed growing concern that US military resources critical for potential conflicts in Asia, particularly with China, have been stretched thin due to ongoing support for Ukraine and continued military engagements in the Middle East.

US officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, have highlighted the need to bolster America's position in the Indo-Pacific region in order to counter China's increasing influence, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

These officials argue that American military support for Ukraine and decades of military campaigns in the Middle East and Afghanistan have diverted vital resources away from Asia. Sources within the US Congress said that military leadership is worried about the potential consequences of resource depletion.

Specifically, they are concerned that the US may be forced to transfer precision-guided munitions from stockpiles in the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East due to escalating military operations in Yemen. A Pentagon source recently informed congressional aides that the US Navy and the Indo-Pacific Command are deeply concerned about the rapid consumption of munitions in Yemen. 

These concerns come as the US continues to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia in its efforts to combat Houthi rebels in the region. A senior US military official warned that, should tensions in Asia escalate, the Pentagon risks facing real operational challenges due to the depletion of necessary resources.

By Naila Huseynova