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I would like to welcome our witnesses to today’s hearing on “Protecting American Interests in a Convergent Global Threat Environment.” We are joined by Retired U.S. Army General Jack Keane and Dr. Mara Karlin. I appreciate their insights as we look ahead to building the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It’s appropriate to review the current threat environment and evaluate our national defense priorities.
As we look around the world, it is apparent our strategic competitors are cooperating with each other. North Korea has sent troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. The Defense Intelligence Agency has confirmed Russian use of Iranian UAVs against Ukraine. Russia and China continue to cooperate economically and politically as part of their “no limits” partnership. As the National Defense Strategy Commission states, “[g]iven the growing alignment of authoritarian states, the United States must continue to invest in strengthening its allies and integrating its military (and economic, diplomatic, and industrial) efforts with theirs.”
The United States, together with allies and partners, has responded to Ukraine’s need to defend its sovereignty – from providing air defense to tanks and critical ammunition. Now, assistance must continue not only to give Ukraine the ability to defend itself but also to bring Putin to the table to achieve a negotiated settlement, one that ensures peace and a Ukraine that remains an independent, sovereign, democratic country.
Partners and allies have also reinforced security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This Committee has consistently supported investments in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen such Indo-Pacific partnerships, enhance our collective readiness, and improve logistics. Through the AUKUS partnership that was supported by the FY2024 NDAA, the United States is actively strengthening deterrence in the region.
I believe these activities highlight how we can continue to provide for the national defense in a multipolar world. We must prioritize the relationships that have enhanced our security – the network of partners and allies that strengthens deterrence.
At the same time, the current Administration is limiting one of the levers of our national security, foreign assistance. The blanket freeze of U.S. foreign assistance limits U.S. influence in the world and will have lasting effects on our national security. Defense is just one leg of the stool that is also upheld by diplomacy and development.
Investing in security also requires changes to the way the Department of Defense invests in our competitiveness. The culture must change to investing in innovative solutions and technology while divesting of costly legacy systems. Cultural risk aversion has become dangerous and costly. It too often results in stale, outdated technologies that can put security at risk. Now is the time to adjust incentives, behaviors, and signals that drive cultural change. Let’s get survivability right and iteratively harden critical information infrastructure. Let’s drive change at the Department to adapt quickly and responsively in acquisition and management.
I look forward to the discussion today to hear from our witnesses about how the Department may adjust to the current threat environment and what investments will be most impactful.
Thank you and I look forward to today’s testimony.