Hegseth and the US Navy - more oomph instead of perpetual rubbish

Pete Hegseth, the Minister of Defence, announced in mid-February that around 8 % of the investment programmes in the US defence budget are to be cut - this corresponds to around 50 billion dollars. Projects relating to diversity, equality and inclusion are particularly affected, followed by climate protection programmes.

The funds freed up should instead be used for presidential priorities - above all for securing the US border and for the purchase and introduction of the "Iron Dome for America" missile defence system based on the Israeli model. What is now required is a credible deterrent potential - and the ability to win wars.

Not affected by the cuts are the construction programme for the Virginia-class attack submarines and the modernisation of the nuclear weapons that are to be stationed on the new Columbia-class submarines - even though these boats themselves are on the list of cuts. There are also major long-term projects such as the next destroyer type DDG(X) or the Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV).

What works is allowed to continue - which is currently rarely the case in the US Navy. The unrest is growing accordingly. Because when systems don't work, cutbacks become a burden - and exacerbate the situation. The impression prevails: lighthouses instead of conceptual balance. Bang instead of bungling.