A recent report from a bipartisan commission formed by Congress has raised serious concerns about the United States’ preparedness for a potential global conflict with major adversaries like Russia and China.
The report, released Monday, highlights that without significant changes to the national defense strategy, the U.S. could lose a future conflict against these powerful nations.
“Without significant change by the United States, the balance of power will continue to shift in China’s favor,” the report states.
The Commission on the National Defense Strategy explained that the current global security environment is the most perilous since World War II.
The U.S., despite its substantial defense budget nearing $900 billion, is being outpaced by China, which spends an estimated $711 billion annually on defense.
The report indicates that China has made significant strides in military investment, “The Commission finds that, in many ways, China is outpacing the United States and has largely negated the U.S. military advantage in the Western Pacific through two decades of focused military investment.”
This poses a growing threat, especially as China increases its aggressive stance towards Taiwan and clashes with U.S. allies in the South China Sea.
The commission also expressed concern over the potential alliance of adversaries such as Russia, North Korea, and Iran, which could pose a significant threat to the U.S. across multiple theaters of war.
The report stressed the necessity of a bipartisan effort to implement major changes and investments in national defense, cautioning that waiting for a catastrophic event similar to Pearl Harbor or 9/11 would be too late.
Another point of contention is the Pentagon’s slow adaptation to emerging threats, particularly in technological advancements. It highlighted the need for the U.S. to incorporate new technologies, improve military capabilities, and deploy innovative operational concepts.
The current state of the U.S. military was described as lacking both the capabilities and capacity required to deter and prevail in combat confidently.
One significant issue identified was the inadequacy of the defense industrial base. The commission noted that the industry, currently dominated by a small number of large defense contractors, struggles to meet the equipment and munitions needs of the armed forces, as evidenced by the difficulties in supplying Ukraine with necessary artillery in its conflict with Russia.
The report called for a more diverse range of companies to work together across allied countries to address this challenge.
Political polarization in the U.S. further aggravates national security concerns. The commission explained that the American public needs to understand the severity of the threats posed by Beijing and other adversaries.
To counter these threats, the group recommended increasing defense spending, improving alliances, addressing recruitment challenges, and making strategic investments in cyber, space, and software technologies.
The report also urged Congress to revoke the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act spending caps to allow for increased defense and national security spending.
This would support a multiyear investment in the national security innovation and industrial base, enabling the U.S. to build a future force capable of meeting emerging threats.
As former Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), chairwoman of the commission, stated, “We face threats greater than any time since World War II and more complex than the Cold War.”
The commission’s findings and recommendations underscore the urgent need for a fundamental shift in the nation’s defense strategy to address these evolving challenges and ensure the country’s security.