Trump Urges South Korea to Help Boost U.S. Shipbuilding and Challenge China’s Growing Maritime Power

On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared that the United States will provide South Korea with access to sensitive nuclear submarine technology, marking a notable change in the defense partnership between the two countries. Trump made the announcement on social media following his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, granting Seoul the ability to develop nuclear-powered submarines—a privilege previously reserved for only a select group of nations. He indicated that these submarines would be built at Philly Shipyard, which was purchased last year by South Korea's Hanwha Group, though specifics regarding the project's cost and scope have yet to be disclosed, according to a

.

This decision comes at a time of rising tensions in the region. During Trump’s visit, North Korea revealed it is constructing a nuclear-powered submarine and carried out cruise missile launches, highlighting the country’s growing military strength. South Korea has been eager to acquire nuclear propulsion technology to strengthen its navy, with President Lee emphasizing that their interest is in fuel for conventional submarines rather than weaponry, as reported by

. The initiative also fits into broader efforts by the U.S. and South Korea to deepen military cooperation, including a $150 billion investment from Seoul in American shipbuilding, which is part of a larger $350 billion commitment to help offset U.S. tariff reductions, according to an .

The partnership goes beyond just submarines. South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and U.S.-based

(HII) have entered into a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on building Navy auxiliary vessels and to consider investments in U.S. shipyards. HHI, the top American military shipbuilder, and HD Hyundai, a major global player in both commercial and military shipbuilding, are working together to help resolve challenges facing the U.S. shipbuilding industry, such as limited capacity and labor shortages. This collaboration is a key part of South Korea’s “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” campaign, which aims to boost U.S. industrial strength and foster closer economic relations, as detailed in a .

These developments are further shaped by global politics. As South Korea prepares to chair APEC in 2025, it is positioned to act as a go-between for the U.S. and China, with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to meet at the summit. China’s recent sanctions on Hanwha’s American subsidiaries and its dominance over 71% of the world’s shipbuilding market highlight the strategic importance of these moves. Analysts caution that South Korea’s interest in nuclear propulsion could raise proliferation issues, given its current limitations on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel without U.S. consent, as TBS News has pointed out.

Although the Pentagon has not yet issued a statement regarding the technology transfer, the decision underscores Trump’s strategy of utilizing international expertise to strengthen U.S. industries. The administration is also in the midst of negotiating a complex trade deal with South Korea, with final terms still unresolved due to disagreements over investment arrangements, as reported by

. At the same time, the U.S. is working to push back against China’s dominance in shipbuilding, which poses risks to global supply chains and military operations in times of crisis, according to the Politico article.