In recent news, a congressional commission has found that insufficient industry, readiness, innovation, and funding could hinder the US military’s ability to prevail in a conflict. This report raises concerns about the preparedness of the United States for potential warfare with major adversaries such as Russia and China. The findings indicate that the US Defense Department is struggling with its ambitions of deterring significant conflicts or triumphing in them.
The 114-page document reveals that the National Defense Strategy (NDS), which was written prior to the commencement of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, has become outdated. The US military is not structured correctly, and the nation’s industrial base is “grossly inadequate” to deal with potential threats. It is argued that the last time the US was prepared for a major conflict was during the Cold War, which ended 35 years ago.
Jane Harman, a former Democratic congresswoman and chair of the commission on the NDS, told a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing that “our commission believes unanimously that the threats to US national security and our interests are greater than at any time since World War II and are more complex than during the Cold War.” The increased political and military alignment between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran is also mentioned as a significant concern.
At a NATO summit in Washington, the alliance declared that China is “a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” which Beijing has dismissed as “full of lies and bias.” Both Moscow and Beijing have denied Western allegations that China has been providing Russia with dual-use goods that can be used to produce weapons.
The report states that the US should assume that if it enters a direct conflict involving Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea, that country will benefit from economic and military aid from the others. It also suggests that this partnership increases the likelihood of a conflict with one expanding to multiple fronts, demanding simultaneous resources from the US and its allies.
In conclusion, experts recommend that the US should increase its presence in Europe by deploying a full armored corps accompanied by enablers such as air defense and aviation. This report raises questions about the United States’ preparedness for potential warfare with major adversaries and highlights the need for increased investment in industry, readiness, innovation, and funding to ensure the nation’s military is capable of prevailing in a conflict.