U.S. Military Rated 'Weak' in Heritage Foundation's Annual Index

Report warns of inability to defend vital interests amid global crises, highlights recruitment crisis and lack of investment.

The Heritage Foundation's 10th annual Index of Military Strength has rated the U.S. military as 'weak' for the second consecutive year, warning that the armed forces may be incapable of defending vital American interests.
The report finds that almost no branch of the U.S. military is ready to face a major conflict, with the Air Force and Navy rated as 'very weak' and 'weak' respectively, while the Army and Space Force are rated as 'marginal'.
The Marine Corps is the only branch to receive a positive overall score, rated as 'strong', but it remains too small to accomplish the missions the Pentagon tasked it with in the previous year.
The report also highlights a recruitment crisis and a lack of investment in the military, with U.S. spending on defense continuing to decline for decades.
The U.S. military's weak rating comes at a critical time, with the country facing multiple global crises, including Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, the fight against global terrorism, and increasingly hostile postures by Iran, North Korea and China.