A congressional commission concluded in a report released Monday that the United States could lose a future conflict with Russia and China in a global war unless significant changes are made to its national defense strategy.
The Commission on National Defense Strategy said in 132-page report that the security environment was at its most dangerous level since World War II, but that the US was “not prepared” for another global conflict.
The US is being overtaken by China, the Commission noted, estimating that Beijing spends at least $711 billion annually on defense, increasing to meet Washington’s nearly $900 billion annual defense budget.
“The Commission concludes that, in many respects, China is surpassing the United States and has largely negated the US military advantage in the Western Pacific over two decades of concentrated military investment,” the report reads. “Without significant changes on the part of the United States, the balance of power will continue to shift in China’s favor.”
China has already surpassed the US in hosting the largest navy and largest army in the world, and continues to modernize its armed forces.
The threat from China has become more acute in recent years as Beijing threatens to unify, by force if necessary, with the autonomous island nation of Taiwan – with which the US has unofficial relations but is committed to defend. China also clashes more frequently with the U.S. ally the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
The US recognized China as the most significant threat in the 2022 National Defense Strategy, but the commission said it was “not confident that the US military would be successful” against Chinese forces in a regional conflict.
And the Pentagon has failed to adapt to the growing alliance between its adversaries, including Russia, North Korea and Iran, which could threaten Washington in multiple theaters of war, the commission argued.
“A bipartisan call to arms is urgently needed so that the United States can make big changes and significant investments now, rather than waiting for the next Pearl Harbor or 9/11,” he wrote. “The support and determination of the American public is indispensable.”
The group also pushed for the US to modernize, criticizing “byzantine research and development” under the Pentagon and the use of old military equipment.
“The Commission finds that the U.S. military lacks both the capabilities and capacity necessary to be confident that it can deter and prevail in combat,” the investigators wrote. “We need to do a better job of incorporating new technologies at scale; field more platforms, software and higher-capacity munitions; and deploy innovative operating concepts to better employ them together.”
They also criticized the defense industrial base, calling for a renewed industry with a diverse range of companies working together in allied countries. It acknowledged progress in the form of new initiatives like Replicator, which aims to create thousands of autonomous drones, but in the event of a prolonged conflict, the commission said US industry would be “unable to meet the requirements for equipment, technology and munitions needs ” of the armed forces.
This issue has been well documented, with the US industrial base struggling to provide Ukraine with the artillery bombs it needs in the war against Russia, which has a much larger artillery arsenal.
The defense industry has also become more consolidated under a small group of large defense contractors, who have been accused of overcharging the Pentagon and providing underdeveloped technology or weapons.
Political polarization in the US is also endangering national security, the commission concluded, while the American public has not yet fully realized the threat from Beijing and other adversaries.
To address growing threats, the group recommended that the U.S. increase defense spending, continue to strengthen alliances, address its recruiting challenges, and that the Pentagon be more willing to cancel unnecessary programs and invest wisely—specifically calling for investments in cybernetics, space and software. . Researchers also called for a nationwide approach, with government, private industry and nonprofit organizations working to support national security needs.
The Commission on the National Defense Strategy was created by Congress following the Biden administration’s 2022 defense strategy and began its work in April 2023, including meetings with government and private industry officials.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
