A senior official on President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has recommended that the Pentagon seek assistance from the United States’ allies in Asia for the repair and maintenance of overseas naval ships, given the growing demands on the American fleet and the limited capabilities of domestic shipyards.
Robert Wilkie, a former secretary of veterans affairs and leader of Trump’s Pentagon transition team, shared these insights during the Reagan Defense Forum in California. He highlighted the ongoing challenges the U.S. Navy faces in maintaining its fleet due to the scarcity of American shipyards. This difficulty is expected to intensify if Congress and the Navy succeed in expanding the fleet to 355 ships and beyond. Considering the prowess of China’s shipbuilding sector, Wilkie argued for international cooperation.
“I believe, in light of the significant Chinese threat, we have no reason not to utilize shipyards in Japan for repairs and enhance our capabilities,” Wilkie asserted.
He also expressed interest in collaborating with Sweden for its expertise in icebreaker construction, although he did not reference the recent trilateral agreement between President Joe Biden, Canada, and Finland, known as the ICE Pact, which addresses similar concerns.
While the proposal to outsource U.S. Navy ship repair to foreign facilities is not a novel idea, it remains highly controversial on Capitol Hill. Many lawmakers, especially those representing constituents employed in American shipyards, are staunchly opposed to any outsourcing that could jeopardize domestic jobs. Labor unions have also voiced strong objections to such plans, reminiscent of the backlash earlier this year when Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro proposed similar outsourcing strategies.
