Shipbuilding Is National Security

In this American Thinker article, the author argues that America’s declining shipbuilding capacity is not just an industrial issue but a direct threat to national security in an increasingly unstable world.

• The U.S. has dramatically fallen behind global competitors—especially China—in shipbuilding capacity, both commercial and military
• China’s state-driven shipbuilding industry produces far more vessels at lower cost, giving it a strategic advantage in potential conflicts
• American shipyards have shrunk due to decades of outsourcing, regulatory burdens, and lack of long-term investment
• The decline impacts naval readiness, limiting the U.S. Navy’s ability to maintain and expand its fleet
• Shipbuilding is framed as a critical component of wartime logistics, not just peacetime commerce
• The author argues that relying on foreign-built ships creates vulnerabilities in supply chains during crises
• Revitalizing domestic shipbuilding would require coordinated government policy, incentives, and reduced regulatory barriers
• The piece draws historical parallels to World War II, when U.S. industrial capacity—especially shipbuilding—was decisive
• It concludes that rebuilding the industry is essential to maintaining U.S. global power and deterrence

Read the full story: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/04/shipbuilding_em_is_em_national_security.html