American Naval Strategy and Forces to the Year 2000

Abstract : Decreasing force levels in the United States Navy are being driven by economic and domestic political forces with little regard for strategic considerations. Will the United States' naval components be able to execute the Bush administration's National Security Strategy with the forces that Congress is willing to fund? This paper examines the tools likely to be available to the U.S. Navy by the year 2000, and alterations to naval strategy that will be required if Soviet naval forces continue to be modernized at current rates of production. It deals with the U.S. Navy's role and capabilities in advancing the United States' interests, goals and objectives throughout the world. Whereas the U.S. Navy has been the dominant naval power for nearly 50 years, there are naval forces building which may be strong enough to challenge American naval supremacy on a regional basis. The paper concludes with prospects for naval arms control between the two superpowers. Keywords: Naval budgets; Balance of power; Economic impact; Military force levels; Naval planning; United States Navy.