The United States is not ready for a major war – 2024-10-05 23:09:41

US soldiers in Estonia during NATO’s Steadfast Defender 24 exercises, which were the military alliance’s largest exercises since the Cold War. AOP

NATO countries trust that the United States will guarantee Europe’s security in the event of the worst.

However, US officials and defense experts say the country is not sufficiently prepared for a major war.

In late summer, the US National Defense Strategy Commission submitted its final report on the matter to the country’s Congress and President.

According to the report, the United States faces the most serious and challenging threats the nation has faced since 1945, including the possibility of a major war in the near future.

The armed forces are at their lowest since the Cold War

During almost the entire Cold War, the United States prepared to fight two wars at the same time. The budget caps set during President Barack Obama and the country’s strategic orientation against the threat of China have made it impossible to fight two simultaneous wars.

The total strength of the US armed forces is at its lowest level in 80 years. The country’s low unemployment makes it much more difficult to recruit soldiers.

The report emphasizes the threat posed by the alliance of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea and states that the United States is not ready to respond to such a threat.

The conclusion is that the United States must double its defense budget and the Defense Department must change its “inflexible” approach to new innovations in the defense industry.

Foreign Policy magazine writes how hard-line hawks in the US Congress typically use similar reports in their efforts to increase the country’s defense spending.

The US National Defense Strategy Commission includes members from both parties in the country, as well as defense consulting companies and think tanks.

The risk of global conflict is increasing

Professor at the Swedish Defense University Kjell Engelbrekt commented on the report to Dagens Nyheter and found it worrying.

– Here in Europe, we consider the threat of the United States very important, that’s why reading something like this is worrying.

If the United States is not perceived as militarily superior, Engelbrekt believes that the risk of global conflict will increase. For example, China could try to conquer or blockade Taiwan.

According to Engelbrekt, it is not certain that the United States would emerge victorious from a conflict with China in the Indian Ocean.

– They say that the United States’ advantage has weakened in many respects compared to China. China’s navy is now larger than the US’s.

One of the efforts of the report is to try to reduce the dependence of European allied countries on the United States. NATO defense planners are wanted to set minimum targets for military resources.

According to Engelbekt, ​​the report emphasizes that the United States relies on military alliances around the world.

Defense alliances necessary

In order for the United States to be able to manage wars and conflicts simultaneously in different parts of the world, defense alliances such as NATO in Europe and Aukus and Quad in Asia will be necessary in the future.

In 1983, during the Cold War, the United States spent 6.8 percent of GDP on its defense budget. In 2010, during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the budget was 4.7 percent.

By 2025, the US defense budget is expected to be 3 percent of GDP.