The article discusses the feasibility of the 'Golden Fleet' concept recently announced by President Trump, which aims to develop a new class of battleships comparable in size to Japan's Yamato-class. Despite an initial plan for 20-25 ships, experts like former Vice Admiral Gojiro Watanabe express concerns over the lack of a clear strategy to back such ambitious plans, suggesting that the Navy's fleet acquisition strategy has been directionless for some time.

It outlines the historical context of the US Navy's shipbuilding plans over the past two decades, starting with the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, which emerged as a response to the Cold War's end and shifted to countering smaller conflicts like drug trafficking. However, after the events of September 11, 2001, the focus of US military strategy shifted dramatically towards the Global War on Terror (GWOT), complicating existing plans and leading to delays in the Freedom-class's commissioning, which eventually came in 2008.

Ultimately, although the initial plan called for constructing 52 Freedom-class ships, it was abruptly cut to 32 before their early decommissioning started in 2022 due to a perceived lack of utility. The ongoing geopolitical challenges, including conflicts in Ukraine, Venezuela, and concern over China's ascendancy, have only added pressure on US naval strategies and the overall military preparedness in the face of evolving security threats.