The White House (via OMB) strongly protests Congressional efforts within the FY 2027 NDAA to prohibit the purchase of warships from foreign shipyards. The Administration argues that these restrictions undermine national security by limiting flexibility and hindering its strategy of leveraging allied yards, such as in the 'Finland model,' to drive investment into U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This signals a significant policy shift toward integrating international partners into advanced naval construction, suggesting the Pentagon is prepared to bypass traditional domestic build requirements for future combat vessels.
The American Military’s Coming Marathon
English Summary
The Foreign Affairs article argues that the U.S. military is entering an era of protracted, marathon-like conflicts, rather than quick, decisive victories. Recent events, particularly the ongoing war with Iran, demonstrate that modern warfare is characterized by extended engagements, resource depletion, and a shift in power dynamics favoring adversaries with access to cheaper, mass-produced weaponry like drones. The U.S. military’s reliance on fixed assets and failure to adequately invest in defenses has resulted in significant losses. To adapt, the U.S. must prioritize building stockpiles of munitions, leveraging advanced technologies, hardening bases, and fostering closer alliances – a shift from rapid, targeted operations to sustained, resilient engagement.
中文摘要
《外交事務》的文章認為，美國軍事正步入一場持久戰、類似馬拉松式的時代，而非快速、決定性的勝利。最近的事件，尤其是持續的與伊朗的戰爭，表明現代戰爭的特徵是戰事持續時間延長、資源耗盡以及敵對勢力憑藉更廉價、大量生產的武器（如無人機）而改變力量格局。美國軍事對固定資產的依賴以及未能充分投資於防禦，導致了重大損失。為了適應，美國必須優先建立彈藥庫存、利用先進技術、加固基地以及加強同盟關係——從快速、有針對性的作戰轉向持久、具有韌性的參與。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Western Pacific remains a highly active theater defined by sustained U.S.-led military exercises and escalating great power competition. Key evidence includes continuous joint operations, such as RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii and the deployment of CSGs into the South China Sea, juxtaposed with increased naval activity from both China (PLAN task groups) and Russia near Japan's critical straits. These movements underscore a strategic push by non-allied powers to assert presence and challenge regional norms. Policy implications dictate that allied nations must maintain robust multilateral cooperation and interoperability to safeguard freedom of navigation and manage escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
-
3.
The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
-
4.
The article argues that current market borrowing costs are rising independently of the Federal Reserve's policy stance, challenging the assumption that the Fed controls all rates. Evidence shows significant increases in key rates—such as 2-year Treasuries and mortgages—even while the effective federal funds rate remains steady. This divergence occurs because market rates reflect complex factors like inflation expectations, credit risk, and geopolitical volatility, which are outside the central bank's direct control. Policymakers should therefore recognize that sustainable rate moderation requires credible disinflation and disciplined government budgets, rather than relying solely on Fed intervention.
-
5.
Despite recent trade setbacks, the U.S. retains fundamental structural economic leverage over China, particularly in high-tech sectors and intermediate goods. While Beijing can temporarily weaponize specific resources like rare earths, these chokepoints are vulnerable to diversification efforts by the West. The article argues that the most effective strategy is not unilateral action but coordinated multilateral pressure from U.S. allies across Asia and Europe. Washington must therefore coordinate its economic statecraft with partners to maximize damage to China’s export-dependent model.