20250212: FC: Protecting American Interests in a Convergent Global Threat Environment

Committee on Armed Services

2025-02-12

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This hearing examines the rising convergence of global threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, who are increasingly cooperating to undermine U.S. influence. Witnesses emphasize that defense spending as a percentage of GDP has declined to its lowest level since World War II, making a significant investment in military capabilities urgent. The discussion centers on modernizing the Pentagon's acquisition process to keep pace with emerging warfare, including drone and hypersonic technologies, and the need to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Key recommendations include increasing defense spending to at least 5% of GDP, reforming procurement to allow faster, more agile responses, and enhancing capabilities in cyber, space, and autonomous systems. The hearing concludes that an all-of-the-nation, multilateral approach—balancing military, diplomatic, and economic tools—is essential to prevent a global conflict.

Participants

Transcript

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Welcome to our first hearing of the 119th Congress, where we will examine a hard truth.  The United States faces the most challenging threat environment since World War II.  China is investing heavily in its military and threatening to outpace the United States.  Russia's military, despite suffering massive casualties in Ukraine, is rapidly reconstituting.   In fact, the Russian army is larger today than it was before the conflict.  North Korea has doubled down on expanding its nuclear capabilities, and while Israel has dealt a blow to Iran, the Ayatollah continues to harbor nuclear ambitions.  And with the help of his terrorist proxies, he's attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea and American troops across the Middle East.   Alone, each of these adversaries poses a significant threat to the United States, but they're no longer acting alone.   They're building an alliance dedicated to countering American interest.  China, Iran, North Korea are actively supporting Putin's war machine.  Iran is providing Russia with thousands of drones.  North Korea is supplying thousands of artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and soldiers.  However, it's China that's become Russia's most important lifeline.   In accordance with their no limits partnership, Xi is keeping Putin's economy afloat by buying Russian oil and gas.  And without Chinese semiconductors and dual-use components, Russia's defense industrial base would have already come to a screeching halt.   This growing cooperation extends well beyond the war in Ukraine.  Putin has expressed public support for Xi's ambitions to reunify Taiwan.  Meanwhile, Russia has helped China expand its nuclear arsenal, as well as enhance air defense, anti-ship, and submarine capabilities.   In defiance of Western sanctions, Russia and China have funded the Ayatollah's malign agenda by purchasing large amounts of Iranian oil.
As for North Korea, Russia reportedly intends to share advanced space and satellite technology to aid Kim's development of ICBMs.   This deepening alignment creates the risk that conflict anywhere could quickly become a multi-front war.  We must take this threat seriously.

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