US Seeks Naval Lifeline From Türkiye Amid China Challenge

The United States and Türkiye have been engaged in discussions since last year on potential cooperation in naval shipbuilding, as the US Navy looks to expand its fleet amid intensifying strategic competition with China.

According to Middle East Eye, US officials have explored whether Turkish shipyards could supply ship components or help construct additional frigates, as Washington grapples with long-standing production bottlenecks and limited industrial capacity.

Türkiye has emerged as a major naval shipbuilding power in recent years, with shipyards capable of producing more than 30 vessels simultaneously for the Turkish and Pakistani navies. Turkish defence firms have also developed indigenous warship designs under the Milgem project, the country’s national naval programme.

US Shipbuilding Under Pressure

The push for cooperation comes as the Trump administration seeks to revitalise US shipbuilding and significantly expand the Navy’s fleet after decades of underinvestment.

So far, Washington has leaned heavily on Asian allies such as Japan and South Korea for expertise. A notable example is South Korea’s Hanwha Group, which acquired Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania in December 2024 for $100m, with plans to produce up to 20 ships annually.

However, US efforts have faced setbacks. In December 2025, the Pentagon cancelled the Constellation-class frigate programme with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The vessels were to be built at a shipyard in Wisconsin.

Türkiye Seen as a Potential Partner

US law generally prohibits the Navy from building warships overseas, and Türkiye is unlikely to invest directly in US shipyards. However, President Donald Trump has signalled that his administration is exploring options to build vessels in allied countries to address shortages.

“We used to build a ship a day. We don’t build ships anymore,” Trump said in January. “Maybe we’ll use allies also in terms of building ships.”

A US official told Middle East Eye that early discussions with Türkiye reflect the seriousness of the shipbuilding crisis in the United States.

“The US shipbuilding industry is in a real crisis, and the Trump administration has talked with Türkiye about meeting its needs,” the official said.

Sanctions and Strategic Calculations

Deeper defence cooperation with Türkiye could face scrutiny in Congress due to sanctions imposed on Ankara under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) following Türkiye’s 2019 purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

Nevertheless, some officials see shipbuilding cooperation as a way to strengthen bilateral ties while working around existing sanctions. A former US official told Middle East Eye that the Pentagon has already been looking for alternative production sites.

Türkiye’s Shipyard Advantage

According to Turkish defence industry expert Kubilay Yildirim, the US faces a dual challenge: increasing ship production while modernising an ageing fleet and developing new designs.

“For these processes, the US lacks sufficient manpower, shipyards and dry docks,” Yildirim said. “Türkiye can help in terms of production volume, timelines, risk sharing and workload distribution.”

Unlike US shipyards, Turkish facilities are geographically concentrated around Pendik and Tuzla near Istanbul and in the Yalova region, allowing for rapid adaptation to new projects.

As part of the discussions, a delegation from the US Naval Sea Systems Command recently visited the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command.

Innovative and Collaborative Production

A Turkish source familiar with the shipbuilding sector told Middle East Eye that the Istanbul Naval Shipyard has spare capacity that could be used to build additional vessels.

Yildirim highlighted Türkiye’s skilled workforce, access to steel and component suppliers, and experience in collaborative shipbuilding. Under the leadership of defence company STM, multiple civilian and military shipyards often work jointly on projects, producing modules at different sites before final assembly.

Turkish shipyards have also embraced automation and advanced production technologies, while many US yards continue to rely heavily on manual labour.

“These technologies are now maturing,” Yildirim said, “and Türkiye is one of the countries where they are being developed and incubated.”