Pressure on Congress to Increase Navy Funding... Why?
The leaders of the US Congress are facing pressure to raise the budget of the US Navy, while the Center for International Maritime Security considers these pressures as imperative to fight China's growing military ascendancy.
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US Navy warships
Pressure renews on the leaders of the US Congress to increase the military budget, notably for the Navy, with an emphasis on a fixed increase of 5% for the next five years.
These increases in funding, according to CIMSEC (Center for International Maritime Security), are aimed at confronting China, as "the military rise of China threatens the balance of power globally.”
The studies Center, specializing in military affairs, joined these efforts by reminding the Congress of the foundations of previous strategies, which are strategies are based on the active role of the Congress in formulating the armament priorities, military hierarchy, and required field competencies, in force since 1986.
The Center explained that these efforts resulted in limiting the circle of determining the required strategy to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and gradually neglecting the duties of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In an indication of the absence of a strategic vision, the Center referred to the testimony of the US Army Chief of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, before the Congress on June 29, 2021, in which he said, "winning the war against China means not fighting China."
At the same Congressional hearing, Dunford described the CIMSEC as "naive at best."
The Center urged decision-makers in the US to promote the adoption of a deterrent strategy against China centered on reorganizing combatant naval forces into independent commands and demonstrating effective readiness to achieve a traditional deterrence policy, instead of adopting a broad military presence in response to operational needs in the foreseeable future.
About two months ago, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee that "China presents the most significant threat to the US," pointing out that his country is making every effort to strengthen deterrence against China and accelerate the development of his country's capabilities.
Austin also stated that his ministry has reviewed the positioning of the US forces in the world.
At the same meeting, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark A. Milley said, "China is increasing its military capability at a very serious and sustained rate, and the US must retain the competitive and technological edge against this pacing threat.”
