A bipartisan report issued this month by the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States emphasizes that the current trajectory of the U.S. strategic forces are insufficient to deter the looming Chinese and Russian threat, said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).
“The findings of this bipartisan report detail the gravity of the situation we face,” said Sen. Wicker, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. “The details of this report should serve as a wakeup call for our Armed Forces and the national security community as a whole.”
The Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act established the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States and tasked it with examining the long-term strategic posture of America. The commission’s final October report includes a comprehensive review of the current and projected threat environment; an assessment of current U.S. nuclear deterrence, missile defense, space, cyber, and conventional military forces and strategic posture; and recommendations for the most appropriate strategic posture and nuclear deterrence strategy, according to a summary released by Sen. Wicker’s staff.
“The report is also a stark reminder of the significant work needed to expand our nuclear submarine industrial base to increase production and reduce repair time,” the senator said. “It is apparent from the report that there is much more that we should be doing to ensure our military, and particularly our nuclear forces, are capable of deterring two near-peer nuclear adversaries at the same time.”
Sen. Wicker said that it’s essential Congress move forward quickly with a plan to provide the military with the necessary resources to restore the nation’s nuclear deterrent and rebuild the capacity to find and win two wars if necessary.
“Passing a defense supplemental in the near-term and guaranteeing real growth in the annual defense budget will help us meet this moment,” he said on Oct. 12. “Failing to make these investments now will leave the United States weaker and invite costly new threats from our adversaries.”