Pentagon official assessment shifted US focus from Ukraine to China
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A Pentagon memo reveals that shortages in US weapons stockpiles influenced a temporary halt of arms shipments to Ukraine.
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The Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon on October 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
The Wall Street Journal has revealed a confidential memo from Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby highlighting how shortages in US ammunition and equipment stockpiles are affecting decisions on arming Ukraine, as the Trump administration shifts military focus toward China.
Sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in early June, the memo didn’t include direct recommendations but detailed how Ukraine’s requests were draining the Pentagon’s already limited reserves.
While described by one defense official as an “assessment tool", other insiders say the memo contributed to the Pentagon’s temporary suspension of some arms shipments to Kiev, later reversed by Trump.
The WSJ noted the memo reflects rising tension within the US defense establishment between expanding foreign commitments and maintaining military readiness amid constrained resources.
Colby’s strategic priorities emphasize focusing on the Western Pacific, where concerns about a potential conflict with China are escalating.
The memo compared Ukraine’s equipment demands against US global stockpiles used for training and combat readiness, feeding into a broader review of America’s military capabilities and allocation.
Though Trump later assured Ukrainian President Zelensky that shipments would resume and denied halting support, sources say the memo bolstered calls within the Pentagon to reassess military aid to Ukraine in light of broader strategic challenges.
This signals a shift toward Pentagon policies prioritizing the Asia-Pacific region, even if it means reallocating resources away from Europe to strengthen alliances there.
Dems accuse Hegseth of falsifying arms shortage to block Ukraine aid
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unilaterally halted a planned shipment of military aid to Ukraine, citing concerns, deemed baseless by critics, about depleted US weapons stockpiles, according to reports.
The shipment, which included air defense missiles and precision munitions, had been pledged under the Biden administration to support Ukraine in the war with Russia.
However, NBC News reported that the decision to pause the aid was made solely by Hegseth, Donald Trump’s top defense official and a former Fox News host, who has previously faced scrutiny for sharing sensitive military plans in Signal group chats, one of which inadvertently included a journalist.
This marks the third time Hegseth has delayed Ukraine-bound arms, reportedly over stockpile concerns. When asked about the latest hold, President Trump defended the move, saying, “Biden emptied out our whole country, giving them weapons, and we have to make sure we have enough for ourselves."
