President Donald Trump has announced that the US will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy 'battleships' named after himself, as part of a revamped 'Golden Fleet'.
Construction on the Trump-class USS Defiant ship, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump stating the first vessels will be operational in two-and-a-half years.
This announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy, which includes new manned and unmanned vessels, in response to concerns over the US naval capabilities compared to China.
During the announcement at Mar-a-Lago, flanked by administration officials, Trump emphasized that he has approved the construction of two initial battleships, with plans to expand the fleet to as many as 25. 'They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,' he declared.
Equipped with hypersonic and 'extremely lethal' weapons, these vessels are expected to become the flagships of the US Navy and provide a significant boost in naval power. Trump also noted that the fleet's construction would generate 'thousands' of jobs within the domestic shipbuilding sector.
This initiative follows warnings from military officials about the US Shipbuilding capacity lagging behind that of China, which has been rapidly expanding its naval fleet. The US Navy aims to enhance its readiness and capabilities in the face of increasing maritime challenges laid out by various defence experts.
The Trump administration's renewed focus on naval strength coincides with rising tensions in regions such as the Caribbean and Venezuela, where increased US naval presence is reportedly aimed at combating drug trafficking and other threats to national security.
