True. We only sell weapons now. China is not expecting a return in 10 years on what they have built, they expect it in 50 but they have the political upside now. We did something similar in Europe after WW2 with ERP ( Marshall plan ) The Chinese are replicating the idea in steroids
USA is an ocean away from anywhere strategically important to it. USN can project power 3,000 miles away to some extent but the other branches rely on having allies and use of their bases. It is hard to drive a tank undersea for long as an example.
The Chinese think everywhere is just a Train, A Maritime route or a Highway away. The taking over of South American Economies is expansive they literally own it.
USA forged links with Europe, so two continents to operate from. Now China has links with almost of Asia, much of Africa and now South America. And strategic links with Russia and India. Soft power is worth a lot more than the military will ever be.
www.aiddata.org/blog/chancay... Owning the Ports is also a Military move.
US thinking late 1940s was exactly the same. A strategy that paid off for 80 years.
NATO came as a result from those efforts and for decades we have military bases there. Now in little time a lot of what was done is destroyed by this shortsighted administration,the reality is,if Europe was not keeping up with the cost we just needed to eat it because the reward in power was greater
More than 90% of US military spending has always been to support the US arms industry. Because of political corruption. Most of the US stockpile is, and always has been, completely useless. You cannot drive a tank across the ocean. Without allies it is pointless.
100% true
Live in a desert, buy a tank. Live in a fish tank, buy a submarine. Basic logic. But nit with US military procurement.