There are at least two lawmakers who believe America definitely has lost its space advantage. The Denver Post reports that Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) doesn’t think the American public “understands the importance of space.” Calvert was in Colorado Springs, Colo., to speak at the National Space Symposium, where he proclaimed, “Our competitors are literally breathing down our necks.” He was joined in that sentiment by Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who told the symposium that the US must “find the sweet spot between collaborating and competing.”
The Pentagon released its new National Defense Strategy late Jan. 23, emphasizing a new commitment to the Western Hemisphere. But while that focus garnered most of the headlines, the strategy’s subtle shifts on China raise questions about how the Trump administration aims to leverage U.S. military power in the Indo-Pacific.

