The United States has reportedly used more than half of its stockpiles of certain weapons systems during its recent conflict with Iran, prompting concern among defence analysts about the country's preparedness for a potential future confrontation with China. The depletion has led the Pentagon to request billions of dollars in additional funding to replenish munitions, highlighting how a shorter regional conflict can rapidly strain military resources intended for larger, longer-term strategic challenges.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies has been cited among those assessing the scale of the drawdown, with officials and experts warning that heavy consumption of missile defence and strike munitions during the Iran operation could leave the US less equipped to respond to a larger-scale conflict, such as one involving China in the Indo-Pacific. The report notes that the Pentagon is seeking substantial new funding to rebuild these stockpiles as concerns grow over the sustainability of current production rates against potential future demands.