Pentagon Deemed Insufficient Against Threats from China and Russia.

A recent report by the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, published on July 16, 2024, revealed significant gaps in the Pentagon's current defense capabilities, deeming them inadequate to face the growing threats posed by China and Russia. The report highlights that the existing national defense strategy is outdated and that the military structure and industrial base of the United States are not sufficiently prepared for a potential global conflict.
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Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recently participated in an exercise in the Philippine Sea, which is under the operational area of the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific (Picture source: US DoD)

The Commission, created by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and chaired by former Representative Jane Harman, conducted a comprehensive review of the national defense strategy. The conclusions call for a major overhaul of defense planning and investment. The report underscores the need for a new "Multiple Theater Force Construct" to replace the current model, which it labels as "outdated."

The report emphasizes the public's lack of awareness regarding the financial and other costs necessary to adequately prepare for a global conflict, calling for a bipartisan effort to address these challenges. Harman stated that the Department of Defense's strategy was formulated before recent geopolitical developments, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and does not account for the growing partnership between China and Russia.

Among the Commission's recommendations is a global and prioritized force planning approach. The report opposes focusing on a single adversary or region, suggesting that such a strategy is fundamentally flawed given the global nature of threats posed by China and Russia. The proposed approach aims to effectively allocate limited resources, addressing threats of varying magnitudes while ensuring that the U.S. instruments of national power are tailored to specific strategic objectives.

The report also calls for significant changes within the military services. For the Navy, it recommends an increase in ships and shipbuilding infrastructure. For the Space Force, it suggests a greater dispersion of satellites. The Air Force is encouraged to continue its Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter project. In the Indo-Pacific theater, the report advocates for more undersea resources, particularly Virginia-class submarines and large unmanned underwater vessels, as well as additional long-range bombers and fires.

Regarding Europe, the report criticizes the national defense strategy's classification of Russia as an "acute threat," arguing that this underestimates Moscow's ongoing and persistent threat. To effectively counter Russia, the Commission recommends increasing the scale, capability, and freedom of materials provided to Ukraine and strengthening the U.S. forward presence in Eastern Europe with more robust military infrastructure.

The report also highlights the deficiencies in the U.S. defense industrial base, describing it as too small in personnel, companies, financial support, and production capacity. It calls for easing legal and bureaucratic barriers that hinder cooperation with allies, such as "Buy American" initiatives and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) obstacles. The Commission urges lawmakers to facilitate greater allied participation in the defense market and the Pentagon to engage more aggressively with international partners.

To address the industrial base's shortcomings, the report advises increasing the production of existing munitions, investing in new munitions and weapons, recapitalizing arsenals, and improving advanced manufacturing capabilities. The Pentagon is also encouraged to simplify its research and development and acquisition processes to keep pace with technological advancements and warfighter needs.

Commission Vice Chair Ambassador Eric Edelman emphasized that the United States cannot face significant threats with the current size of its military, defense spending, and industrial base capabilities. He stressed the importance of demonstrating the ability to mobilize at wartime speed to deter adversaries from launching a catastrophic war.

In conclusion, the Commission's report delivers a critical message: the current U.S. defense strategy and industrial base are insufficient to counter the coordinated threats from China and Russia. Immediate and sustained efforts are necessary to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, integrate new technologies, and enhance global alliances to maintain U.S. influence and security in an increasingly complex and dangerous world.