Part 8/11:
He also points out that government contracts often favor military vessels, making it difficult for commercial shipyards to secure work. This creates a fragile ecosystem where the U.S. risks losing industrial capacity, which could be detrimental during wartime.
The Geopolitical Dimension
Magaliano discusses China's strategic use of its merchant fleet as a component of its comprehensive sea power, noting that China's "soft power" and economic influence come from its vast merchant marine. He warns against overestimating the security benefits of solely relying on allies or exports of capacity, arguing that the U.S. needs to invest domestically to preserve strategic independence.