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AFP
Washington
The US military must regain its strategic advantages over Russia and China and prioritise being ready for war, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday as he unveiled the Pentagon's vision for the future.
The administration of President Donald Trump worries that America's vast military is feeling the effects of years of budget shortfalls and atrophy, and needs a full reboot to restore it to an idealized strength.
Part wishlist, part blueprint for the coming years, the Pentagon's national defence strategy seeks to grow the military, improve its readiness and work with allies -- all while operating across multiple theatres including in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
"This strategy establishes my intent to pursue urgent change at significant scale," Mattis wrote in the introduction to the strategy.
"We must use creative approaches, make sustained investment and be disciplined in execution to field a Joint Force fit for our time, one that competes, deters and wins in this increasingly complex security environment."
Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development, told reporters that Mattis's strategy seeks to deal with the"erosion" of America's military advantage.
"What it is recognising is that China and Russia in particular have been assiduously working over a number of years to develop their military capabilities to challenge our military advantages," he said.
The new defence strategy follows on from Trump's national security strategy that he released last month which, similarly, highlights the role of China and Russia in the global security environment.
"China is a strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea," Mattis wrote.
"Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic and security decisions of its neighbours," he added, while also pointing a finger at Iran and North Korea for their threats to peace.
The two countries reacted furiously to Trump's security strategy, with Beijing accusing Washington of having a"Cold War mentality" while Moscow denounced its"imperialist character."
Trump's security strategy contrasts with the friendly nature of his first state visit to Beijing in November, when he received a lavish welcome and repeatedly praised President Xi Jinping.
One of the biggest criticisms inside the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill is that the US military is suffering from a lack of readiness where troops and gear are not getting the training or maintenance they need.
Mattis said America must be ready to fight a war.
