OPINION:
As the COVID-19 vaccine is administered to patients in the U.S., it illustrates the need to maintain strategically important manufacturing capabilities in the United States in times of crisis.
It is particularly imperative that Republicans and Democrats in Congress do not lose sight of the existential threat posed by China, Russia and Middle East countries that seek to harm by continuing to perpetuate the hollowing out of the American manufacturing base. As the incoming administration aims to rebuild our economy, they must prioritize rebuilding America’s industrial base as a core national security issue.
In recent years, I authored a study on the military’s growing and dangerous reliance on foreign nations for the raw materials and finished products needed to defend the United States. Our military is the strongest in the world due to our ability to manufacture and produce the materials that we need to support our troops, right here in the United States. And when it comes to protecting U.S. national security, aluminum is a critical component in our national defense and infrastructure.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Section 232 report found in 2018 that the U.S. Department of Defense needs aluminum to maintain “effective military capabilities such as armor plate for armored vehicles, aircraft structural parts and components, naval vessels, space and missile structural components.” Simply put, domestic production of U.S. primary aluminum is a core part of the defense industrial base and must be maintained.
In my 30 years of military service, I saw firsthand the importance of primary aluminum in our military infrastructure. The high-performance military aircraft I flew incorporated U.S.-made military grade aluminum in their airframes. We rely on our military equipment made from these materials to keep America safe. That requires a secure domestic military infrastructure and supply chain right here in the United States.
America’s largest aluminum producer, Century Aluminum, runs the newest and most efficient aluminum smelter in Mt. Holly, South Carolina. However, in October the plant was forced to issue WARN notices to 300 great American workers as the plant’s future is uncertain. In recent days, Century Aluminum reached a preliminary agreement on the principal terms of a new, three-year power contract for the Mt. Holly aluminum smelter. That said, in order for the Mt. Holly facility to fully regain capacity, the U.S. government must prioritize its focus on supporting American primary aluminum production.
The U.S. already lost one of its seven remaining smelters earlier this year, and we cannot afford to lose another one. When it comes to U.S. strategic interests, the loss of domestic primary aluminum production would have a devastating on impact on our defense industrial base not to mention critical infrastructure and make us more reliant on Russia and the Middle East. U.S. primary aluminum is used in weapon and rocket system propellant, 5G towers, solar arrays, high speed trains and electric vehicles. In 2000, the U.S. was the largest producer of primary aluminum in the world, yet today we only have six smelters remaining.
Republicans and Democrats must work together to ensure that domestic manufacturing of essential military equipment is preserved. The federal government should actively pursue programs that work to financially support and strengthen America’s primary aluminum industry to preserve the industry’s viability to meet future national security challenges.
If we choose to do nothing and replace domestic production with imports, primary aluminum would most likely be sourced from Russian producers, leaving Russia and China with an increased market share over global aluminum production. This would present a grave national security concern, as we could no longer rely on U.S. manufacturing to quickly source the necessary materials in a crisis.
Washington should pursue regulatory policies to protect America’s ability to manufacture primary aluminum domestically. By supporting local primary aluminum production at smelters across the United States, we will ensure that we can protect our defense industrial base without relying on Russia, China and the Middle East.
It is critical that leaders in Washington use Development Finance Corporation and Defense Production Act (DPA) funding to support America’s primary aluminum industry. We must ensure the viability of America’s primary aluminum industry for the next national crisis and beyond.
• John Adams, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, served more than 30 years’ active duty as an aviator and military intelligence officer. His final assignment was as deputy U.S. military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Committee. He is the author of “Remaking American Security.”
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