❗️US holds shipbuilding talks with Turkiye as US Navy seeks rapid fleet expansion – The Cradle

 ❗️US holds shipbuilding talks with Turkiye as US Navy seeks rapid fleet expansion

Turkiye and the US have been holding talks since last year on cooperation in naval shipbuilding, as the US Navy looks to expand its fleet amid growing competition with China, officials told Middle East Eye. Ankara has emerged as a major naval producer in recent years, with shipyards capable of building more than 30 vessels at once and indigenous warship designs developed under the Milgem program.

According to officials, US representatives have explored whether Turkiye could supply ship components, while discussions have also raised the possibility of Ankara helping the US Navy build additional frigates. The Trump administration is seeking to revive domestic shipbuilding and enlarge the fleet after decades of underinvestment, leaning on allies such as Japan and South Korea for expertise. US shipbuilding efforts have faced setbacks, including the Pentagon’s cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program, prompting Washington to consider alternative solutions.

A US official told MEE that the talks highlight the depth of America’s shipbuilding crisis, with Turkiye viewed as a potential partner able to provide production capacity, skilled manpower, and faster timelines. While deeper defense cooperation could face scrutiny in Congress due to sanctions imposed over Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 system, some officials see shipbuilding collaboration as a way to strengthen ties. A delegation from the US Naval Sea Systems Command recently visited the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command as discussions continue over expanding naval industrial cooperation.

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