Top Republican urges significant increase in defense budget to confront US adversaries

Wicker talked about how countries are working together to challenge the U.S. He wants more money for defense, but it's hard to convince Congress. The White House suggested spending $850 billion on defense, a small increase from before. This might not be enough because costs are going up. They plan to save money by retiring old military equipment. Wicker thinks it will be tough to get Congress to agree to spend more money during a time of political unrest. The U.S. is still divided on issues like helping Ukraine and dealing with the aftermath of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's also a big election coming up between Biden and Trump, who have different ideas about America's role in the world. China and Russia are getting closer, which worries some people. Lawmakers are cautious about increasing the defense budget, which already takes up a lot of money. The House Armed Services Committee approved a $884 billion plan for defense, staying within spending limits but focusing on specific military projects. Wicker is talking to Democrats about his plan, but it's not clear if they support it. Wicker and other defense supporters in the Republican party are dealing with changes in defense spending under Trump's leadership. Earlier this year, many Republicans opposed giving $95 billion in aid to countries like Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, even though the money would mostly go to U.S. defense companies. Wicker is inspired by Senator John McCain's efforts in 2017 to increase defense spending. Wicker believes the situation now, with China's growing military power and Russia's recent actions, is different from before. He thinks it's important for the U.S. to invest more in defense to stay safe.