Iran War Drains US Coffers, Pentagon Requests Over Rp3,000 Trillion in Funding
The costs of the war against Iran are swelling. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has acknowledged that the military operation requires significant funding. The budget request has even reached US$200 billion (equivalent to Rp3,386 trillion).
The exact amount of war costs has not yet been announced to the public. The figure heavily depends on the duration of the military operation that began on 28 February.
However, initial indications show a fantastic figure. In the first six days alone, the operation costs were reported to reach US$11.3 billion. This amount is considered reasonable given the scale of the attacks involving various advanced weaponry systems.
Daniel Schneiderman, director of the global policy programme at Penn Washington, assesses that the high costs stem from the use of high-precision ammunition, interceptor systems, air sortie intensity, fuel consumption, and operations of two aircraft carrier groups.
“The use of cruise missiles, defence systems like THAAD, bombs and missiles from aircraft, as well as logistical support and expert personnel, all contribute to the enormous costs,” he said.
According to him, modern warfare is indeed expensive. Even on a daily basis, the Iran conflict has the potential to become one of the most costly US military interventions ever.
Hegseth indicated that the US$200 billion figure could still change. The government, he said, will return to Congress to ensure funding is sufficient for both ongoing operations and future needs.
“We must ensure all requirements are met, including replenishing ammunition,” said Hegseth.
US President Donald Trump has also given similar signals. He stated that the large budget request is not only related to Iran but also to the unstable global situation. According to him, the availability of large quantities of ammunition is considered an investment to maintain military superiority.
“We are requesting a large budget for various reasons. The world is currently very uncertain,” said Trump.
In addition to direct military costs, the economic impacts of the war are also widely felt. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a surge in global oil prices, adding pressure to the world economy.
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