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🇰🇷 South Korea /Economy & Trade

Trump Eyes Korean Shipyards for U.S. Naval Expansion

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of expanding cooperation with South Korean shipbuilding companies and purchasing vessels built abroad.
  • He emphasized the need to strengthen the U.S. Navy, noting that many ships are aging and the U.S. has exited the shipbuilding business.
  • While U.S. law generally prohibits foreign construction of military vessels, exceptions can be granted for national security reasons.

President Donald Trump has indicated a potential increase in collaboration with South Korean shipbuilding firms, even suggesting the possibility of purchasing vessels constructed overseas. Speaking at a defense innovation summit in Pennsylvania, Trump stressed the necessity of bolstering the U.S. Navy, stating, "We will probably be looking at companies coming from Korea and other regions."

We will probably be looking at companies coming from Korea and other regions.

— Donald TrumpDiscussing potential partnerships for U.S. shipbuilding needs.

Trump further elaborated on the prospect of acquiring foreign-built ships, noting, "They are cooperating with us on shipbuilding. We will also purchase some ships made outside the region." He acknowledged the U.S. Navy's current strength but highlighted the aging fleet and the U.S.'s withdrawal from the shipbuilding industry as reasons for seeking external partnerships.

They are cooperating with us on shipbuilding. We will also purchase some ships made outside the region.

— Donald TrumpElaborating on the possibility of acquiring foreign-built vessels.

The specific meaning of "some ships made outside the region" remains unclear. However, given Trump's previous request to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for the rapid construction of 10 U.S. warships during the G7 summit, this statement is interpreted as a consideration for overseas construction. U.S. law, specifically the Byrd-Tollefson Act, generally prohibits the construction of U.S. military vessels and their major components in foreign shipyards. Nevertheless, the President can grant exceptions if deemed necessary for national security and upon notification to Congress.

Our Navy is the strongest in the world, but we still need many ships. Our warships are aging, and we have exited that business (shipbuilding).

— Donald TrumpExplaining the rationale behind seeking external shipbuilding capabilities.

This development follows a statement from a senior South Korean presidential official on May 9th, who suggested that Trump was not ruling out South Korean construction of warships. South Korea and the U.S. had previously agreed during trade negotiations last year that South Korean companies would invest $150 billion in shipbuilding cooperation as part of a larger $350 billion U.S. investment package. A Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center is set to open in Washington on May 23rd to support these efforts.

I am getting the impression that President Trump is not ruling out building ships in Korea, but we need to look into that further.

— Senior South Korean Presidential OfficialCommenting on follow-up discussions regarding warship construction.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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