The Golden Fleet is Trump’s latest attempt to salvage naval prestige after Red Sea failures

Follow-ups – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

In a move reflecting Washington’s concern over the decline of its naval influence, President Trump is overseeing a new military project named the “Golden Fleet,” aimed at reshaping American naval power by introducing modern classes of warships.

The project comes in the wake of internal assessments that revealed the current fleet’s inability to counter evolving threats, particularly the Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea, which exposed gaps in American naval defenses, according to statements from retired officers.

According to Pentagon sources, the Golden Fleet will include massive ships equipped with long-range missiles, alongside smaller units like corvettes, in an attempt to overcome the limitations of the current fleet, which Navy Secretary John Villan described as rusty and dilapidated.

American military officials disclosed that they sent direct messages to Trump complaining about the poor readiness of the ships, prompting the latter to adopt the project as part of his vision to rebuild American military strength.

Although the project is still in its early stages, observers believe that its long implementation timeline might prevent its results from being seen during Trump’s current term, raising questions about its actual feasibility and whether it is merely a political card to counter escalating challenges from China and unconventional naval operations in conflict zones.

The project reflects an American attempt to restore naval prestige after a series of field failures, and Trump is also seeking to achieve a military accomplishment bearing his personal signature amid internal criticism. The Golden Fleet may be a belated reaction to strategic shifts in the international naval balance of power.