United States President Donald Trump is set to address a defense summit at the US Army War College on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, where he is expected to highlight US investments in its armed forces. However, this comes as the US military's weapons stockpile has been significantly depleted amid renewed conflict with Iran.

Following an April ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding signed in June, hostilities resumed after the US Central Command launched heavy attacks on Iran's military sites last Wednesday, aiming to degrade Tehran's military capabilities. The conflict has seen Iran's southern coast bearing the brunt of US strikes, with ongoing exchanges of attacks and threats, including from President Trump targeting civilian infrastructure.

In March, Trump stated that administration officials met with leaders of major US defense manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, and Northrop Grumman to address production needs. Despite these efforts, delays persist. For instance, Japan's order of 400 Tomahawk missiles from Raytheon, originally scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027, may be postponed by up to two years, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Additionally, Switzerland has begun negotiations with France, Israel, and South Korea to procure another missile defense system after delays affected its 2022 order from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

The defense summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, occurs amid growing domestic opposition to the war, with recent US polls indicating unpopularity among Americans facing high living costs.

Sources