The issues that are being discussed in this thread apply to all Western Militaries. All of the issues around manning are a symptom of the bigger problem, that is a widening commitment vs capability gap.
Senior leaders of all services have aggressively pursued a strategy of "do more with less" but that is nearing it's practicable limits. The reality for all the middle level powers is that it is becoming impossible to maintain all of the legacy capabilities and decisions need to made about what current capabilities are no longer affordable and must be jettisoned. By that I mean getting out of the big ticket items, not just dropping ancillary tasks.
Unfortunately no senior leader wants to dismantle the organization he spent a lifetime working to lead. This coupled with the willful ignorance of the political leaders, who want us to respond to anything, but won't acknowledge the true cost, means that the it is very tempting to mortgage the future knowing someone else will have deal with fallout when the bills inevitably come due......