Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro recently pledged that the United States would work with its allies to fight a strategic threat that “does not respect borders or multilateral groupings.” He wasn’t referring to Russia, which is attempting to wrest control over Black Sea ports from Ukraine. Nor was he referring to Iran, which is threatening to strangle international commerce in the Strait of Hormuz. Nor was he talking about China, which has been challenging the territorial integrity of its neighbors in the South China Sea. No, the threat del Toro pledged to combat with the might of the U.S. Navy is climate change. This is a betrayal of the Navy’s core mission, which is defined by law as “the effective prosecution of war.” And it is a betrayal of the brave men and women who serve in the Navy in order to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, not theoretical and climatic.

The secretary’s announcement is all the more alarming in light of the defense budget that the Biden administration rolled out last week. It seeks a record $842 billion, but never has a president asked Congress to spend so much on so little. The budget proposal would cut the size of our naval fleet in favor of long-range missiles. It would also suspend the acquisition of amphibious warships as part of what del Toro called a “strategic pause” in the growth of our fleet. This would be economically catastrophic and strategically provocative.

The U.S. Navy keeps the lines of global commerce open. Over 80% of global trade is conducted through commercial shipping, which is dependent on the freedom of navigation. As a net importing nation, freedom of the seas is our economy’s oxygen — an element necessary to its vibrancy. And, as recent shipping delays at the California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have shown, our supply chains depend on the uninterrupted movement of ships around the world.

Through America’s leadership, the international community has kept commerce moving around the globe and has held piracy and maritime lawlessness at bay. Our presence at strategic choke points and maritime passages such as the Panama and Suez Canals and the Straits of Gibraltar and Hormuz has minimized disruption to the world’s seaborne trade. Our Navy often accomplishes this without firing a single shot. I know this firsthand because during my six years in the Navy, I witnessed hijacking attempts of container ships that were immediately aborted when U.S. naval vessels came into view. That sort of security by sheer presence would be impossible with a diminished fleet.

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What’s more, while the U.S. Navy has been conducting climate change war games and studying sustainable paint for its ships, China’s navy has surpassed our fighting fleet. China’s navy is now the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of over 340 platforms, not including 85 patrol combatants outfitted with anti-ship cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy sits at around 294 battle force ships, with a downward projection to 290 by 2030. China launched its third aircraft carrier in 2022 and reportedly began construction of its fourth in 2021. Essentially, China seeks to bolster its sweeping claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea, not only by artificially increasing the size of islands and installing military outposts, but by building a formidable sea power strong enough to deter the U.S. from defending Taiwan and our allies in a regional conflict.

The Biden administration’s defense budget signals that the U.S. Navy is abdicating its historic role as guardian of the free seas. The entire world — especially America — will pay the price for such a retreat. Since World War II, U.S. naval supremacy has made the world safer and more prosperous. China is poised to fill any void created by America’s naval retreat and, if its conduct in the South China Sea is any indication, China will be no champion of freedom.

Rod Dorilas is a Navy veteran, Palm Beach international business & maritime attorney, and former Republican congressional candidate who served as counsel to U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, 2020-2021.