WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan nonprofit policy research organization, held their flagship annual security forum. Military and intelligence leaders as well as researchers and policy analysts shared their perspective on the United States’ role on the world stage and the steps the Pentagon should make in building our military readiness as we deal with conflicts in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and deterring a potential third with regards to Taiwan.  

“We’ve seen the limits of our defense industrial base, our munitions stockpiles, we need to be replenishing those stockpiles,” said Dr. Thomas Mahnken, President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment. “We need to be using new ways to employ our forces which [inaudible] about and new ways to be working with our allies.” 

They said building and maintaining alliances needs to be one of our top foreign policy objectives. Analysts believe a good start to continue relations abroad would be for the Senate to confirm the vacancies for US Ambassadors.  

“The Senate should know we are tying our hands behind our backs when we don’t show up in these countries,” said Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. 

In order to build up our military readiness and continue our foreign policy influence abroad, they said it’s all about the money. 

“The [defense] budget did not keep pace with inflation so in real terms they’re taking a cut even though the number looks bigger,” said Flournoy.  

“We’ve had a strategy across three administrations with a budget being able to fight a single conflict and be prepared for others,” said Dr. Mahnken. “Look, there’s two wars going on now and the potential big one hasn’t even kicked off and hopefully it never will and we need to think seriously about the resources we as a nation need to put to our national defense. Efficiency is great, we can always do better but I don’t think we’re gonna meet the nation’s defense with the change we’re gonna find in couch cushions.”