America’s Maritime Crisis Demands a Multinational Solution
The United States is facing a well-known but increasingly urgent shipping problem. From the Pentagon to Congress, and from maritime analysts to the White House, concern is growing over America's declining maritime capacity.
This awareness marks a shift in U.S. defense and trade thinking, but the country still leans on its go-it-alone mindset. Although there have been minor efforts at bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding, there’s no comprehensive, multinational plan to counter China’s rising dominance in global shipping.
That needs to change.
China has rapidly expanded its commercial and strategic maritime capabilities. In response, the U.S. must work closely with its allies to develop a Multilateral Maritime Alliance. Such an alliance could serve two key purposes:
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Secure international trade routes
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Establish reliable sealift capacity to support expeditionary military operations
Only through robust coordination with partners can the United States effectively compete with China's maritime influence and strengthen global maritime security.
