Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has raised concerns about the state of the U.S. Navy under President Biden's administration. In an interview on Fox News' America Newsroom, Sullivan highlighted the reduction in the U.S. Navy fleet and compared it to China's growing naval power. According to Sullivan, "the United States is now being 'overmatched' by our adversaries," with China's combatant ship fleet already surpassing that of the United States.

Sullivan criticized Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro for prioritizing climate change over shipbuilding and called for a return to "peace through strength" policies previously adopted by Republican presidents like Donald Trump. He emphasized that America's naval capacity is shrinking while China undergoes significant military expansion.

During his conversation with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino, Sullivan expressed support for Admiral Samuel Paparo's strategy to defend Taiwan but stressed that current naval resources are insufficient for such plans. He noted that the U.S. Navy is projected to decrease from 293 ships to 280 by 2027, whereas China aims to exceed 400 ships by then.

Sullivan also mentioned ongoing efforts within Congress to address these issues through amendments to the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He emphasized bipartisan collaboration in seeking solutions to enhance U.S. shipbuilding capabilities.

The senator also referenced his recent trip to Southeast Asia and meetings with regional allies, highlighting concerns about declining American naval power in crucial areas like the South China Sea.

In a related opinion piece published in the Washington Examiner, Sullivan reiterated his call for congressional intervention in what he described as a shipbuilding crisis under President Biden's leadership. He pointed out delays in several major shipbuilding programs and criticized Del Toro's focus on climate issues instead of addressing warfighting capabilities.

Sullivan concluded by urging Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty "to provide and maintain a Navy," proposing measures aimed at increasing shipbuilding capacity and improving procurement processes.