Washington [US], March 29 (ANI): US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III mentioned that the USD 842 billion finances proposal for the fiscal 12 months 2024 for the Defense Department is a strategy-driven finances and one pushed by the competitors with China, including that it’s going to present extra resilient pressure posture within the Indo-Pacific and improve the dimensions and the scope of workout routines with US companions.
The FY 2024 finances request features a 40 per cent improve for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative over final 12 months’s finances and it is an all-time excessive of USD 9.1 billion. That will fund a stronger pressure posture, higher defenses for Hawaii and Guam, and deeper cooperation with our allies and companions.
“This is a strategy-driven budget — and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China,” Austin mentioned throughout testimony earlier than the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“At USD 842 billion, it’s a 3.2 percent increase over fiscal year 2023 enacted … and it is 13.4 percent higher than fiscal year 22 enacted. This budget will help us continue to implement our National Defense Strategy and the president’s National Security Strategy.”The Budget will concentrate on three key priorities: to defend our nation, to maintain our excellent individuals, and to succeed by teamwork.
“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is our pacing challenge. And we’re driving hard to meet it. Our budget builds on our previous investments to deter aggression. We’re investing in a more resilient force posture in the Indo-Pacific and increasing the scale and the scope of our exercises with our partners,” he mentioned in a press release launched by the US Department of Defence.
Now, this finances additionally makes the Department’s largest-ever investments in each RD and procurement.
Austin mentioned,” In the Pacific, the division is forward-stationing and deploying extra forces, whereas additionally investing in airfields, logistics, area consciousness and resilience in locations like Japan, Australia, Guam and the sovereign states concerned within the Compact of Free Association.
The FY 2024 finances request, Austin mentioned, additionally marks the division’s largest funding in analysis and improvement. This 12 months, the request for RD efforts stands at $145 billion.
The division can also be requesting some USD170 billion for procurement to keep up the nation’s air, sea and land dominance. About USD 61 billion funds issues just like the newly revealed B-21 Raider, as an illustration, whereas $48 billion helps the development of 9 battle pressure ships for the US Navy, he mentioned.
“We’ll also continue to modernize all three legs of our nuclear triad … and bolster our strategic deterrence,” Austin instructed senators.
The FY 2024 request consists of $37.7 billion to fund the nuclear triad, together with nuclear command, management, and communications.
The US army would not battle alone, so relationships with allied and associate nations are additionally a spotlight of the FY 2024 finances request, Austin mentioned, highlighting efforts in each Asia and Europe.
“In recent months, our friends in the Indo-Pacific have taken major steps forward,” Austin mentioned.
“The Philippines has agreed to nearly double the number of sites where we cooperate together. Japan has committed to double its defense spending. And through the historic AUKUS partnership, we’ll work with our Australian and British allies to build game-changing defense advantages that will deter aggression and boost our defense industrial capacity,” he added. (ANI)