The United States could quickly run out of ammunition in a war with China, US President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Wednesday and at the same time called for a more sustainable production of defense equipment. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP news agency.
Sullivan appealed to the incoming administration of Donald Trump to maintained the development of the domestic defense industry, which was prompted by Russia’s war against Ukraine. “God forbid we get into a full-scale war with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). But any war with a country like the PRC, with an army like the PRC, would mean a very quick depletion of ammunition reserves.” said Sullivan at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.
“A big part of the answer to the question of a healthy defense industrial base is the ability to regenerate, grow and build during conflict – not just build before or prepare for conflict,” he emphasized.
Sullivan urged Congress and the Trump administration to they continued to work on Biden’s proposal to create a revolving ammunition fund. The fund, which was proposed at $500 million a year, would allow the Pentagon to procure critical ammunition even at a time when, as a result of wars – for example in Ukraine – it is running out.
Sullivan also pointed out the need to face cooperation between the adversaries of the United States – China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Trump’s team has made it clear that it is “not thrilled” with billions of dollars in US weapons for Ukraine, and talks about forcing a quick settlement of the dispute with Russia. Trump’s advisers have said that United States resources would be better spent fighting China.
