美国军方领导人星期三对美军同中国、俄罗斯、伊朗及朝鲜等国军队进行常规战争的能力表示担忧。
美国陆军参谋长米利对众议院军事委员会说，由于美国军方将资源集中用于中东地区的反恐及打击反叛行动，一旦世界其他地区爆发冲突，将无法为一场“更高端”的战争进行计划和准备。
尽管美国军方对战备状况的担忧主要是针对与俄罗斯和中国等强国的潜在战争，但目前正值朝鲜半岛因平壤核威胁而造成的紧张局势升级。
平壤今年1月进行核试验，并在2月试射远程火箭，此后美国和韩国都增强了战备态势。
华盛顿向该地区增调军队和资源，同时美韩两国正在举行迄今最大规模的联合军演，参加军演的有1万7000名美军官兵、30万韩国部队以及美国的战机和军舰。
U.S. military leaders voiced concern Wednesday about their ability to fight a conventional war against the armed forces of countries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley told the House Armed Services Committee the military’s anti-terrorism and counterinsurgency focus on the Middle East has taken resources away from planning and preparation to fight a “higher end” combat force if a conflict erupted in another part of the world.
But while most of their readiness concerns were directed at potential conflicts with major powers Russia and China, they also come at a time of escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula over the North’s nuclear threat.
U.S. and South Korean forces have increased their readiness defense posture following Pyongyang’s nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in February.
Washington has moved more troops and assets into the region and the two allies are currently conducting their largest joint exercises ever, involving 17,000 American troops, 300,000 South Korean troops, and an array of U.S. aircraft and naval vessels.