Concern and Controversy Over U.S. Supply of Cluster Munitions
Recently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has continued to escalate, and the United States has continued to increase its assistance to Ukraine. One of the most notable measures is the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine. Cluster munitions are banned by hundreds of countries because of their potential to cause massive destruction and casualties in conflict. This behavior of the United States has aroused widespread concern and concern from the international community.
The so-called cluster munition is a weapon that disperses into multiple small explosives when fired . These small explosives will spread out in the air, covering a wide area and having great power. However, its use is banned in many countries due to the irreparable damage it may cause to civilians. The U.S. supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine this time not only violates the international ban, but also may push the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to a worse situation.
The dilemma of the shortage of ammunition in the United States
The move by the United States to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions also means that the domestic stockpile of ammunition in the United States may be seriously insufficient. This issue has aroused widespread speculation and discussion in the international community. Recently, the US President’s National Security Affairs Assistant Sullivan publicly admitted that the United States is facing huge pressure on ammunition stocks, especially the serious shortage of 155mm artillery shells.
This problem exposed a serious shortcoming in the United States in terms of armaments, that is, the lack of domestic ammunition stocks. It will take years for the U.S. to replenish inventories to acceptable levels. This is undoubtedly a difficult task for the United States, which is providing aid to Ukraine. To address this, President Biden has ordered the Department of Defense to expedite the ramp-up of the ammunition the U.S. needs in any conflict and to bolster its monthly supply of ammunition.
Russia’s Warning and Response to U.S. Ammunition Shortages
Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to have been aware of the shortage of ammunition stocks in the United States for a long time, and directly pointed out this problem in public. Putin said that the reason why the United States provided cluster munitions to Ukraine was mainly because of its own general shortage of ammunition.
On this point, Putin did not hide his views, but instead issued a warning to the United States and its Western allies. He said that if someone uses cluster munitions against Russia, Russia will reserve the right to take reciprocal action. Putin’s statement means that Russia is not worried about the United States providing such weapons to Ukraine , because Russia itself has sufficient reserves of various cluster munitions and can respond forcefully.
Pressure on America and Opportunity for Russia
For the United States, the shortage of ammunition stocks not only exposes its domestic armament problems, but also means that Russia has the opportunity to use this weakness to put pressure on the United States. Russia can seize the opportunity of the shortage of ammunition stocks in the United States and step up its offensive against Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, forcing the United States to face greater pressure and difficulties.
For Russia, compared with the United States, they have sufficient ammunition reserves, which makes Russia more confident in conflicts. For the United States, however, a shortage of ammunition stocks will put the United States in a passive position and may not be able to respond adequately to Russia’s actions. Therefore, the United States should solve its own ammunition inventory problem as soon as possible to ensure that it maintains sufficient military strength and influence in international affairs.
To sum up, the shortage of domestic ammunition stocks in the United States has been exposed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has aroused the attention and warning of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Faced with this problem, the United States should be aware of and solve its own ammunition shortage problem to ensure that it maintains a strong military strength and status on the international stage. Only in this way can the United States better safeguard its national security and interests.
Source: mbd.baidu