US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Tuesday previewed a 2017 budget that he said better positions the Pentagon to counter a rising China, Russia's assertiveness and fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria
US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Tuesday previewed a 2017 budget that he said better positions the Pentagon to counter a rising China, Russia's assertiveness and fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria
According to RT, president Obama will request $582.7 billion in funding for the Pentagon as part of the fiscal year 2017 budget.
Ash Carter said $71,4 of $582.7 billion is needed for research and development funding. He added that much of the money will focus on maintaining an edge over the competition. During the speech The Defense Secretary mentioned Russia and China as "our most stressing competitors."
Moreover, the 2017 budget will include $7.5 billion to fight Islamic State, $8.1 billion for submarines, and $1.8 billion on munitions
The Wall Street Journal writes about the Pentagon's intentions: "The $583 billion budget, to be formally unveiled next week, devotes billions more on fighting Islamic State, quadruples funding for training and gear for Europe and funds high-tech initiatives like micro-drones launched out of jet fighters and self-driving boats that could be used in the South China Sea."
The new budget will be formally presented on February 9.
