West’s Three Big Moves to Stay Ahead of Growing Threats

The first point asks what the West can do to keep up with foes that are increasingly working together. The Arctic incident last month shows how Russia and China can turn a shared goal into real tension with the United States. The message is that enemies are not playing a game of borders; they are building a global network of cooperation. If the United States treats its allies as separate players and keeps cutting trade ties with them, it loses a powerful partner that can help counter China’s attempts to change international rules. The allies must also stop letting Chinese influence slip through the cracks, because aligning with a repressive regime could hurt Western values. The second point focuses on defense spending. While many European countries are stepping up their budgets to meet NATO targets, they still need to add more to their core defense funds each year. The United States has increased its annual budget slightly, but the share of GDP remains below the 5 % NATO goal. The U. S. still relies on its allies for many weapons, but the best weapons are those that can be produced and delivered quickly. That is why there should be more investment in production capacity and long‑term procurement of munitions. The current flat funding for the next fiscal year shows that there is still a missed chance to strengthen America’s arsenal.The third point asks how the West can keep up its support for Ukraine. European aid has surpassed U. S. aid, and that shows the Allies are taking responsibility. However, NATO’s Ukraine Requirements List was created to direct U. S. weapons to the front lines, and it needs active American involvement. If the United States stops playing a big role, allies may look elsewhere for their military needs and feel that America is unreliable. The goal should be to meet the basic facts about rising threats, the weapons required, and the money needed to fill stockpiles. All three points call for a shared commitment: treat global threats as a whole, invest more in defense budgets and production, and stay actively involved with allies on the front lines. Working together is essential if Western powers want to maintain peace and security.