On June 29, Forward Defense Senior Advisor Stephen Rodriguez wrote an article in DefenseNews titled “Nothing left in the tank: The state of the Pentagon’s supply chain.” In the piece, Rodriguez outlines the weakened state of the US Department of Defense, in particular the lack of surge capacity, caused by scarce and sole-sourced components and parts, and how this would be a major disadvantage in a conflict with China.
The defense-industrial base supply chain is barely able to keep pace today, in peacetime. Failure to act, well intentioned or not, is a de jure policy itself.
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
