Aug 9, 2026 · 15 min
Missile shortages test America’s deterrence
Trump’s Protestations
A depleted stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles could constrain U.S. military choices while rebuilding supplies takes years and substantial resources.
- 1The United States has nearly exhausted its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles.
- 2Dwindling supplies may weaken deterrence against Russia and China and shape presidential military decisions.
- 3Rebuilding the missile stockpile will be a lengthy and costly process.
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Richardson connects the near-exhaustion of highly accurate long-range missiles to the possibility that depleted supplies are influencing presidential military decisions.
The brief
Heather Cox Richardson examines a Reuters report that the United States has used nearly all of its highly accurate long-range missiles, putting a strategic constraint in plain view.
The shortage matters beyond logistics: fewer missiles could weaken U.S. deterrence against Russia and China, narrowing the credibility of future military threats.
The episode considers whether depleted supplies may have influenced Donald Trump’s military decisions, linking stockpile levels to presidential strategy.
The central tension is time: rebuilding the arsenal is not an immediate fix, but a lengthy and costly process that could shape policy in the meantime.
Featuring
Donald John Trump
Russian FederationListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.