The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are significantly depleting critical U.S. weapons stockpiles, raising concerns about the military’s preparedness to respond to potential conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. This alarming insight was provided by Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, during a discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
Admiral Paparo emphasized that the provision and sale of billions of dollars’ worth of air defense systems to Ukraine and Israel are now hampering the U.S. military’s readiness to confront threats in the Indo-Pacific. He specifically noted the implications this could have in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. “Up to this year, where most of the employment of weapons were really artillery pieces and short-range weapons, I had said, ‘not at all,’ when asked if the conflicts were hampering U.S. ability to respond,” Paparo remarked. However, he acknowledged a shift in circumstances, stating, “It’s now eating into stocks, and to say otherwise would be dishonest.”
This statement comes amid heightened military pressure from China towards Taiwan, which has included large-scale military exercises comprising over 125 warplanes. The Chinese government has positioned itself to treat the annexation of Taiwan as a historical inevitability, intensifying its military activities around the island. Although the U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, it remains a crucial ally, bound by U.S. laws to provide the means for Taiwan’s defense.
The conflict in Ukraine, now surpassing its 1,000th day since Russia’s invasion, has prompted the U.S. to provide over $60.4 billion in military assistance. This aid has included advanced military assets such as Patriot air defense systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and the Army Tactical Missile System, which Ukraine notably deployed against Russia for the first time recently.
In the context of the volatile situation in the Middle East, the U.S. has also responded to Iranian missile strikes on Israel by deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional troops to assist in its operation. The ongoing conflicts in both Ukraine and Israel have resulted in significant civilian casualties, with tens of thousands reported dead.
The Biden administration is poised to utilize the remaining $7.1 billion in presidential drawdown authority — which allows for weapons to be rapidly dispatched from U.S. stockpiles — to support Ukraine further. Another aid package is expected to be announced soon. However, Pentagon officials, including spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, have cautioned that the capacity to send additional weapons will be constrained by existing stock levels.
Admiral Paparo pointed out that the urgency to supply weaponry to Ukraine and Israel has led to insufficient munitions reserves for future military needs. “We should replenish those stocks and then some,” he insisted, adding, “I was already dissatisfied with the magazine depth. I’m a little more dissatisfied with the magazine depth,” highlighting concerns about the U.S. military’s ammunition availability in light of escalating global tensions.
