The decline in US weapons stockpiles is likely to influence how Russia and China assess the possibility of a future confrontation with the United States, The New York Times reported, citing experts.

According to senior US officials, the military operation against Iran initiated by President Donald Trump significantly depleted American arsenals. Washington had to redirect weapons originally intended for deployment in Asia and Europe to support the campaign.

The newspaper said the rapid reduction of air-defense missiles and other critical weapons in Europe and Asia has left US forces with fewer resources. Experts cited by the publication believe the situation could also affect calculations in Moscow and Beijing if either considers a potential conflict with Washington.

Thousands of expensive missiles were used during strikes on Iran, according to the report. At the same time, efforts to repel retaliatory Iranian attacks substantially reduced US stocks of air-defense munitions.

The shortages have caused concern among senior members of the Trump administration, NYT reported. They have also contributed to delays in deliveries of US-made weapons to customers in Europe and Asia.

Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the large-scale use of munitions has seriously weakened US conventional deterrence capabilities.

In his assessment, Russia and China may take into account how long it would take Washington to rebuild its weapons reserves. Karako argued that the depletion of American stockpiles could have a significant impact on decisions made in Moscow and Beijing, particularly because restoring US military inventories could take years.

The report also said Russia and China monitor the condition of American arsenals through open sources, satellites and other surveillance methods.