Fixing the Crisis in Power Projection
It is a relief to hear a president give more than lip service to what has become a crisis for our ability to project power.
Projecting power is not a talking point, it’s the backbone of deterrence and of keeping American interests safe overseas. When that backbone is weak, rivals test limits and allies doubt our commitments.
The Navy sits at the center of this problem because ships, bases, and the people who run them are how we show up abroad. Carrier strike groups, amphibious forces, and logistics chains all need to be more reliable than they are right now.
Readiness has slipped across the fleet thanks to delayed maintenance and stretched budgets, and that shows up when ships are unavailable at key moments. Crews get less training, maintenance yards fall behind, and capability gaps widen; that is a dangerous recipe.
Shipbuilding is part industrial policy and part national security, and both have been neglected in recent years. New hulls are only one piece of the puzzle when spare parts, munitions, and trained sailors are missing.
The industrial base is fraying: fewer skilled shipfitters, aging dry docks, and a supply chain that can’t swallow big surges without failure. Rebuilding that capacity means predictable contracts, investment in apprenticeships, and long-term planning instead of stop-and-start buying cycles.
Munitions and logistics get less attention than shiny new platforms, but they decide the outcome of combat and crisis. If we don’t have the missiles, bombs, and sustainment to keep forces in the fight, a modern navy is a paper navy.
From a Republican perspective, the solution is straightforward: prioritize spending on readiness and industrial capacity, cut waste through better oversight, and hold defense leaders accountable for results. That approach protects taxpayers while restoring the tools commanders need to deter conflict.
Technology matters too, but tech without ships and sailors is just an experiment. Unmanned vessels, cyber resilience, and hypersonic defenses should augment a robust, well-maintained fleet that can operate today and adapt tomorrow.
Allies matter because forward presence often relies on partnerships and shared logistics, and U.S. credibility is the glue that keeps coalitions intact. When American power projects reliably, friends are more willing to burden-share and adversaries are less willing to push.
We should measure success in deployed ships, completed overhauls, and crews certified for high-end warfare—not in fancy announcements. Concrete milestones, visible progress, and steady investment will show whether leadership is serious about fixing this crisis.