America shot its arsenal empty in 2 wars. Now it needs Beijing’s permission to reload
The U.S. has depleted significant portions of its precision weapon stockpiles from military operations in Iran and Ukraine, creating urgent replenishment needs that depend heavily on rare earth materials controlled by China. Pentagon assessments warn of a near-term risk of ammunition shortages, as China dominates the refining and export of critical minerals required for missile and aircraft production. With export restrictions tightening, the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Xi is focused on securing access to these essential defense materials.
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On Wednesday, the Trump administration finally let the cat out of the bag that Operation Epic Fury, America’s war on Iran, has burned through $25 billion so far. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. The White House has already requested a supplemental budget of $200 billion for its war on Iran.Recommended Video The inventory math is brutal. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) finds that in Iran alone, the United States burned through 45% of its Precision Strike Missile stockpile, half of its THAAD interceptors, nearly half of its Patriot PAC-3 inventory, roughly 30% of its Tomahawks, and more than 20% of its long-range JASSMs. That is just one war.
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