US military is ‘weak’ and in danger of failing to protect national interests

The study ranked the U.S. military as “weak” for the second year in a row and warned that a lack of action could leave the military unable to protect vital U.S. interests.

The Heritage Foundation’s 10th annual Armed Forces Index concludes: “The current U.S. military, operating in a variety of presences and engagements, is at significant risk of being unable to meet the demands of a single major regional conflict.” “Exposed,” it says. It was released on Wednesday.

The report paints a dire picture of the current state of the U.S. military, which has been rated “weak” by the index for the second year in a row and is unable to meet its security obligations and maintain its ability to meet its global This raises questions about America’s ability to protect its vital national interests. .

The 664-page report covered a wide range of issues and found that most branches of the U.S. military are unprepared to face large-scale conflict. These problems are most pronounced in the Air Force, which the index rated as “very weak” in 2023.

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This report assesses the strength of capacity, capability, and readiness of each service sector and rates the sector’s strength as either very weak, weak, marginal, strong, or very strong. The Air Force is rated as limited in both capacity and capability, but also as weak in readiness. Overall, the report revealed that the Air Force’s strength is currently very weak and has the lowest possible rating.

However, the problem is not limited to the Air Force; the Navy is also rated as having very low capabilities, reaching its limits, and having weak readiness. According to the index, these were given a “weak” overall rating.

“For a decade, this index has watched the Chinese navy modernize and grow at a rapid pace while the U.S. Navy has slowly declined,” said Robert Greenway, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security. he told Fox News Digital. “Meanwhile, the Navy had too little shipyard capacity to maintain its fleet, too few ships to meet the threat, and misleadership that led to a draft crisis. A downward trend that cannot be offset and action is required to reverse the situation. ”

The report found that the Army was not in good shape, with weak capabilities, marginal capabilities, and very strong readiness, resulting in a marginal overall rating, according to the index. did.

While this rating may seem better than the Air Force and Navy, the Army has problems looming, including a reduction in its strength that Greenway called “unsustainable” in the long term.

”Greenway said, “In just two years, the active-duty Army has decreased from 485,000 to just 452,000. This is due to the lack of readiness and effectiveness, as the Army is unable to fully organize its formation. It directly affects both.” Due to draft shortages, the Army reduced its “end strength” by 12,000 men. [fiscal] 2023. This is unsustainable. ”

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The U.S. military’s newest branch, the Space Force, received the same overall rating as the Army, ranking last in all three categories and overall. The Marine Corps, on the other hand, had the only positive overall score on the index, with an overall rating of “Strong,” rated as weak in capability but strong in both capability and readiness.

Wilson Bieber, a defense budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that a large part of the problem can be traced to military investment, adding that U.S. defense spending has been at a low level for “decades.” He said it continues to decline.

“Defense spending as a share of GDP has continued to decline in recent decades. During this period, the military does as much as it did when it was funded by the president and Congress at 6% to 10% of GDP. ” said Beaver.

Making matters worse is the draft crisis that has plagued the military in recent years, which Bieber argues is not being addressed by the current administration.

“The current hiring crisis leaves us with a 41,000-job shortfall in 2023, the worst in our nation’s history,” Beaver said. “If left unchecked, the ability of our all-volunteer military to protect us will be threatened. President Biden and the senior leaders he appoints are focusing on candidates’ race, rather than highlighting accomplishments and accomplishments.” and the military are trying to exploit the candidates’ positions, focusing on gender, to promote their ideology. ”

A White House National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the United States “has the most powerful military in the world,” adding, “President Biden and his administration are confident that the U.S. military will prevail against any enemy.” We are working hard to maintain this capacity so that we can accommodate the following.”

“President Biden and his administration will support our nation’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Guards in a variety of ways, including increasing military pay for the second consecutive year, pursuing new economic opportunities for military families, and expanding and modernizing our military.” , Marines, and Guardsmen. Our goal is to ensure America’s defense industrial base and our military has the capabilities it needs to fight and win wars.” “The world’s strongest, most professional, and most capable combat force requires the support of the entire U.S. government. We once again urge Congress to act quickly on requests for additional funding for the military.”

When it comes to recruiting, the spokesperson said the Pentagon is “taking several steps to meet Americans where they are and talk to them about the value of service. They will be in the best position to talk about our continued efforts.” Yes,” he added.

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But Heritage Foundation senior fellow Dakota Wood told Fox News Digital that the problem is not unique to one administration, and that the trend of weakening the U.S. military has been going on for years.

“Our people are talented but underserved, with outdated facilities, too little equipment, and dangerously low training levels…all of which are essential to protecting our country, and that is exactly what they are.” That’s the reason.” [we] Call them to serve,” Wood said. “And this is not a recent phenomenon. It is the result of years of bad defense policy, mismanaged programs, and difficult funding over many years and successive administrations. If we’re really serious about the safety of the United States and serving America in a way that no one else can, then we need to work together to properly fund our defense and make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. We have a mission that is achievable and squarely in America’s interests.”

The report notes that these problems extend to U.S. nuclear power, with low ratings in multiple categories pushing the overall rating toward the margins.

Robert Peters, a fellow in nuclear deterrence and missile defense at Heritage’s Allison Center for National Security, told Fox News Digital: “Our nation’s nuclear arsenal is decaying, and there is a sense of urgency to replace and modernize it. It’s not moving,” he said. .

The military’s weak rating comes as the United States faces multiple crises around the world, including Russia’s continued war against Ukraine, the global war on terrorism, and increasingly hostile postures from Iran, North Korea, and China. Among them, it is occurring at perhaps the worst time in recent memory.

According to the report, non-state actors such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations all pose significant threats to U.S. vital interests. The report rates China and Iran as aggressive threats, with Russia in the highest ranking as hostile. Meanwhile, Russia and China are both rated as having “formidable” capabilities.

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That threat is particularly acute when it comes to nuclear power in China, Peters told Fox News Digital, which is “the fastest growing nuclear power on the planet.”

“We are now in the 14th year of the United States’ nuclear modernization program. During that time, we have produced zero nuclear weapons,” Peters said. “According to the General Accounting Office, it will not be possible to produce large quantities of plutonium pits by 2030. The newest nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal are 30 years old, and some run on vacuum tubes or floppy disks. be.”

Jeff M. Smith, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Asian Studies, echoed that sentiment, telling Fox News Digital that China is the greatest threat to U.S. interests.

“China poses the most comprehensive and difficult national security challenge to the United States… [Beijing] “We are challenging the United States and our allies at sea, in the air, and in cyberspace,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, a new Heritage report suggests the United States may not be ready to meet the challenge.

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“Unfortunately, this index also reveals that our military is woefully unprepared to deal with the growing threat from China and win the new Cold War. is needed now,” Smith said.

Asked for comment by FOX News Digital, a Pentagon spokesperson asserted, “The U.S. military is the most powerful fighting force the world has ever known.”

“We have not reviewed the report and do not comment on the index,” the spokesperson said. “Every day around the world, the men and women of our military protect vital American interests by deterring diplomacy, countering aggression, deterring conflict, demonstrating force, and protecting the American people.”

Meanwhile, government officials blamed the Heritage Foundation, saying it was at least partially responsible for delaying executive promotions amid multiple ongoing crises.