Trump Seeks Help from Allies, Including South Korea, for U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Amid Capacity Crisis

President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. could ask its allies for help with naval shipbuilding, citing the country’s current inability to meet its own needs.

In an appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump responded to questions about revitalizing the U.S. Navy, saying, “We need ships, but we’re not building them anymore.”

Trump criticized the Biden administration for focusing heavily on the Green New Deal, arguing that this priority has come at the expense of essential defense capabilities like shipbuilding. He added, “We’re going to be announcing some things that are going to be very good having to do with the Navy. “He explained, “We don’t have the dock, and the ships are not ready. We will order from other countries until we are prepared.”

Trump suggested that while the U.S. needs more warships, it is not currently capable of building them domestically and may need to rely on the shipbuilding capabilities of its allies. Although he did not mention specific countries, Trump contacted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on November 7 last year to seek assistance constructing U.S. warships and vessels. Trump praised South Korea’s world-class shipbuilding capabilities and stressed the importance of cooperation in strengthening the U.S. Navy’s fleet.

In addition, a source close to Trump reported that, in mid-November of last year, an associate of the president-elect contacted the South Korean government to inquire about the country’s ship manufacturing and maritime capabilities and explore potential collaboration with the South Korean shipbuilding industry.

According to Eric Labs, a naval analyst at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding capacity has reached its lowest point in 25 years. The current workforce is only capable of producing one frigate annually. As a result, the U.S. Navy’s fleet size has continued to lag behind China’s, with the gap widening, according to AP reports.

The shortage of skilled workers has exacerbated the issue, leading to ship production and maintenance delays. Shifts in defense priorities and budget constraints have also contributed to the ongoing decline in shipbuilding capacity.

U.S. shipyards are addressing the workforce shortage by establishing vocational training academies and partnering with technical colleges to equip workers with the necessary skills for advanced warship construction. Submarine manufacturers and the Navy have also formed alliances to promote manufacturing careers, while shipyards offer various incentives to retain skilled workers.