American military superiority will fade without bold national action

Excerpt

American military superiority has deteriorated or vanished in significant defense capabilities, and the balance of power in strategic locations…has shifted to the benefit of our rivals and adversaries, thereby increasing the possibility of conflict. This crisis certainly did not develop overnight, and recovering will require more than a decade… With a renewed bipartisan national security consensus focused on strong alliances, a coherent strategy, and sufficient resources, we can build the both the military and political power needed to secure the United States for decades to come.

Kelly Ayotte served as United States senator from New Hampshire. She is now a member of the board of advisers for the Center on Military and Political Power with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Bradley Bowman is a former Senate staffer who served as an Army officer and taught at West Point. He is now senior director for the Center on Military and Political Power with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.