Foreign governments are using US debts to enhance their own defence capabilities, according to USCG commandant ADM Paul Zukunft, speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium on 10 January.
China is among the largest holders of US foreign debt, estimated at around $1.2 trillion last year, accounting for some 19% of total debt held outside of the country.
The country has undergone a rapid development of its own defence capabilities and expanded its areas of interest and operations beyond the Asia Pacific region in recent years, rivalling previously assumed US supremacy in the region.
New aircraft carriers, submarines,
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The Spanish Navy’s Alvaro de Bazan-class of air defence frigates will receive the latest Aegis Weapon System technology among other modernisations to extend the service life to 2045.
Shipbuilders are saying the programme is going ahead on time as the government estimates 7.7 million tonnes of steel are needed for 2026 infrastructure projects.
In an exclusive interview with Shephard, Raytheon’s VP of Shipboard Missiles disclosed what improvements the company plans to offer for the Sea Sparrow NSV.
Delays in the construction of the Polar Security Cutter – the future substitute for the Polar Star – are likely to prolong the ageing icebreaker’s service time even more, putting the USCG in a risky position.
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
The presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf means additional naval and aerial capabilities, which provides the US with multiple attacking options.
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