WASHINGTON (Washington Insider Magazine) — Pentagon leaders view China as a growing threat and believe that 2024 will be crucial for the Army to strengthen defenses around Guam, a strategically vital island in the Indo-Pacific. This year, the Army plans to establish a foundational capability to deter potential attacks.
The Missile Defense Agency and the Army are requesting a combined $1.5 billion in the fiscal 2024 budget to enhance the island’s defenses by repositioning assets and integrating advanced capabilities. This initiative represents a significant test for the Army, which has often been overshadowed by air and naval power considerations in the region.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon designated the Army as the lead service responsible for the acquisition and execution of Guam’s defense strategy. A successful defense initiative in Guam could solidify the Army’s role in air and missile defense throughout the Indo-Pacific. However, experts caution that the timeline for implementation might be overly ambitious.
Mark Montgomery, a defense expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that the Army proactively sought the lead role when other services hesitated. Still, he warned that the Army might struggle to meet its commitments. “We’re talking about something that needs to be delivered fairly rapidly by a program executive that is not known for delivering fairly rapidly,” Montgomery said.
