America has many domestic issues, and so it is understandable that many Americans would bristle at the idea of a proposed increase to the military budget. Such proposed increases would come at the cost of funds for health, education and other initiatives. From the onset, I agree on some level with those who believe the current administration is not taking care of domestic issues. However, budgets are intended to reflect present priorities. Looking at the state of the international order, an increased military budget, while unappealing, is necessary as America faces multiple threats all over the world.

The most recent Iran war showcased the need for an increased military budget. In the first 16 days of the operation, the U.S. military depleted “nearly 46% of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles and nearly 40% of U.S.-operated THAAD interceptors.” The fact that we expended that much in such a short amount of time is an uncomfortable thought, especially considering that Iran is only a regional middle power. Imagine a war with China or Russia that went on for several years, and how dire of a situation America would be if all our missiles and interceptors were used up in a month.

Some wonder why America has such a huge military budget when other countries spend so little and are fairly safe. But the reason why those countries are safe is not because of their small or nonexistent military budgets. Some countries like Switzerland or Ireland are geographically positioned in places further from potential conflicts. Countries like Poland (one of America’s allies that has not been slacking in its military budget) cannot afford the same luxury as they are positioned next to Russia who has shown that it is willing, under President Vladimir Putin, to invade its neighbors to restore Russia’s past glory. Also, many of America’s allies have smaller military budgets because America takes care of their security. Now, with Trump’s unstable diplomatic mood swings, these countries are realizing that they cannot always depend on America. They too are increasing their military budgets, and perhaps they will have to make sacrifices when it comes to certain domestic budget costs.

Another particular issue to point out is that while most countries have very simple objectives for their military, America does not. Most militaries only have to be primarily concerned about their borders or, at the very most, their surrounding regions. However, America’s security involves being involved in the whole world. This is because America has multiple adversaries all over the world. Russia, China, Iran and other adversaries only have one enemy: America. America, on the other hand, must split its focus on handling all of its adversaries. It is no wonder we have a high military budget—our situation demands it. And unlike in past times, such as World War Two, many of America’s allies are not fellow global superpowers. For example, Britain is no longer the dominant sea power it used to be. This is not about American exceptionalism, but the fact of the matter is that America is the sole global superpower that has no fellow superpower to share responsibilities with. This comes with benefits, but also many burdens and negative attention.

Many may ask: Why should we have to care about the world? Why should we care about the Middle East or Ukraine or Taiwan? Some people who ask this question believe that the world can be divided into spheres of influence, and that if America stays in its own lane, then it will not be affected by conflicts on the other side of the world. But as Trump and his officials have found out, that is not the case in our globalized world order. Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz and caused economic issues not only for our allies, but also for Americans at home. We should remember that when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the cost of food prices rose. Taiwan is a major exporter of chips and is also positioned in front of the Taiwan Strait, an important maritime route like the Strait of Hormuz. China is hoping to have all the assets and preparations needed to take Taiwan by 2027. If they did pursue such a plan, this would not just be China taking over a small island country. It would have consequences for the global economy and for the average American citizen.

America’s adversaries often act on local scales. Russia invades Ukraine, Iran destabilizes the Middle East and holds a strait hostage. China threatens Taiwan, as well as South Korea and Japan. But these local actions have international effects, which ends up affecting Americans. A large military budget is not solely so that our military can be capable of responding to threats that arise, but to be capable of deterring threats so that they do not arise at all. It is wise to invest in the military for the long run, instead of scrambling when a crisis arises and affects the everyday lives of Americans.

Still, the question remains: How can we have a properly-sized military budget but also care for domestic needs? This is a difficult issue, but I think the solution can begin with better management of funds. The military does need more money, but it also needs more accountability. It has often struggled to use its money wisely. For example, the U.S. Navy recently cancelled the upcoming production of the Consetellation-Class frigate after six years of dragged-out planning and billions of dollars wasted. We need to make sure that the money that is spent on defense is managed effectively, rather than being wasted in bureaucratic overload. 

There are other solutions to other various problems plaguing the military. But, just because the military has problems does not mean that we should withhold funds from it. That would be unwise in this fraught moment for the international landscape. Let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Money spent on defense, while seemingly a distant and long-term investment, still benefits Americans.