US and South Korea Sign Agreement to Build Advanced Warships Targeting China

A strategic agreement was signed between companies from the US and South Korea specializing in the construction and shipbuilding of warships, with the ultimate goal of countering the growing fleet of the Chinese Navy. The US and South Korea are strategic allies in the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to limit and deter the Chinese threat as Beijing asserts claims in the South China Sea and threatens regional stability, targeting Taiwan. To support its claims, China has significantly increased the construction of warships, including frigates, anti-submarine vessels, and aircraft carriers. Meanwhile, the US has lagged behind in recent years due to a lack of specialized personnel and limited shipyard capacities, prompting it to turn to its strategic allies to boost the number of surface units in the American Navy. In this context, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) based in Virginia and Hyundai Heavy Industries from South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday (07.04.2025) regarding the construction of advanced Aegis-class anti-submarine ships. These warships specialize in anti-aircraft protection, capable of intercepting and neutralizing a wide range of aerial threats, including powerful ballistic missiles. Both companies have the capability and expertise to build these advanced ships, with Hyundai Heavy Industries claiming they can construct at least five such vessels annually. This collaboration will allow the US Navy to acquire a significant number of cutting-edge warships in a short time while boosting South Korea’s industrial, commercial, and economic sectors through major American investments. Analysts suggest that in the short term, the US Navy will benefit from increased vessel availability, and in the medium term, could accelerate the growth of the American fleet. Long-term, it will help Washington maintain its global maritime dominance. Additionally, a strong US Navy is crucial for South Korea’s national security, helping deter aggression from both China and North Korea.