West Point Analysis Warns Hormuz Blockade Will Devastate US Defense Industry
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is creating a critical issue for the US defense industrial base, disrupting the supply of sulphur, a key component in extracting essential minerals like copper and cobalt. These minerals are vital for manufacturing and repairing military equipment, and their scarcity, exacerbated by market volatility, could double or triple replacement costs for damaged munitions and systems. This situation highlights a “prelogistical crisis” where military readiness is constrained by opaque and uncontrollable upstream supply chains, a vulnerability that military planning has largely overlooked.
John Q. Hosedrinker