U.S. President Donald Trump might be considering his forthcoming visit to China while suggesting a four-week timeline for military actions against Iran.
Trump is set to land in Beijing on March 31 for a much-anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to a security analyst consulted by 9News.com.au, concluding U.S. military operations by that date could enhance America’s position against its superpower competitor.
“Given its vast size and capabilities, it could take four weeks—or possibly even less,” the expert noted.
However, Hellyer cautions that this timeline also presents potential downsides.
The U.S. military is rapidly depleting its stockpile of crucial weapons that would be necessary in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot anti-missile interceptors.
“If the operations against Iran continue for weeks, you’re looking at hundreds, probably thousands of these being expended,” said Hellyer.
Retired Australian Army Major-General Mick Ryan says the United States and Israeli militaries have the ability to sustain a four-week campaign, but it may not be at the scale of the opening 24 hours.
He also says bringing regime change rests on a “big unknown”.
“That is the extent of penetration by US and Israeli intelligence of the current Iranian regime to affect change.”
Ryan, a senior fellow of the Lowy Institute think tank, says the US administration would be wary of repeating the mistakes of the 2003 invasion of Iraq when it dismissed the country’s military hierarchy from government, unleashing a decade-long insurgency.
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