Former President Donald Trump has proposed a potentially controversial solution to address America's lagging shipbuilding capacity: outsourcing production to allies if domestic shipyards can't meet the Navy's needs. In a recent interview, Trump expressed frustration with the current state of US shipbuilding, highlighting China's significantly greater output.

Trump emphasized the urgency of expanding the Navy's fleet, suggesting that utilizing foreign shipbuilders might be necessary. This stance marks a departure from his previous campaign promises to revitalize American manufacturing. He hinted at upcoming announcements regarding naval expansion, without divulging specifics. Trump also criticized Biden-era officials for allegedly interfering with the Navy's Constellation-class frigate program, claiming their modifications increased costs and reduced efficiency. He specifically pointed to design changes that widened the ships, thereby decreasing their speed.

Trump's proposal has raised concerns within the domestic shipbuilding industry and labor unions. China's shipbuilding capacity dwarfs that of the United States, and the US Navy has struggled for years to build ships on schedule. The Navy currently has 295 vessels, including 11 aircraft carriers, while China boasts over 370 ships and submarines. Congress has mandated a 355-ship Navy, but reaching that goal remains a challenge.

The US also faces a deficit in nuclear submarines. Retired Navy Captain Jerry Hendrix has highlighted the unpreparedness of the American submarine force to meet current threats, noting a decline from a Cold War high of 140 nuclear submarines to the current figure of 68, with only 50 classified as hunter-killer "fast attack" submarines.

China currently dominates the global shipbuilding market with a 46.59% share, followed by South Korea at 29.24% and Japan at 17.25%. The US holds a mere 0.13% of the market. Furthermore, building ships in the US is estimated to be twice as expensive as in other parts of the world.

While Congress has allocated significant funds for new ships and submarines, a Navy report indicates that several shipbuilding programs are behind schedule, partly due to labor shortages. Trump's suggestion to outsource shipbuilding underscores the difficulties the US faces in modernizing and expanding its naval fleet.