Written by William Cahill & Jacqueline Deal via RealClearWire,
In the year 2035, a multitude of new and rejuvenated cities are emerging along America’s coastlines and waterways, igniting a resurgence in industry. These urban centers, taking advantage of the nation’s exceptional maritime geography, showcase state-of-the-art shipyards, manufacturing hubs, cultural landmarks, and upscale real estate developments, all centered around the future’s energy and logistical infrastructure.
Picture a revitalized Detroit: powered by compact nuclear reactors, a thriving, cutting-edge shipbuilding industry coexists with various factories interconnected by air, sea, and land, facilitated by advanced drones transporting goods between them. This revived manufacturing hub provides employment opportunities for members of almost every extended family, with the abundant clean energy powering it also supporting high-quality education, healthcare, and public transportation services for residents. Detroit leads the charge in reindustrializing the U.S. economy, enhancing manufacturing independence, resilience, and national security.
This promising future is well within reach; ample resources exist to establish numerous maritime boomtowns, blending innovative logistics with coastal living along America’s oceanfronts, the Great Lakes, and the rivers that traverse the Midwest. Realizing this potential requires identifying the aspects of conventional practices that must evolve.
Transporting goods via water remains the most efficient mode of transportation, representing 80 percent of global trade. However, the United States has yet to leverage its extensive coastlines and rivers to revitalize domestic supply chains or, if necessary, to support a wartime economy, primarily due to its limited production and crewing of commercial ships. While China delivered over 900 ships last year, the United States failed to produce any, posing a significant and escalating risk to national competitiveness and security.
A critical juncture is approaching. As China aims to dominate crucial markets and supply chains, the United States allowed its shipbuilding and maritime logistical capabilities to dwindle while permitting leading research facilities and companies to transfer their expertise to the adversary. Consequently, China has emerged as the world’s leading manufacturer across various industries, placing critical U.S. infrastructure in its crosshairs.
Countering this threat hinges on establishing maritime freedom cities.
These new coastal hubs of population, technology, and logistics will stimulate demand and capabilities for the U.S. industrial sector, bolstering U.S. resilience and complicating adversary targeting. Fortunately, this solution is already unfolding.
Prior to the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill, President Trump had steered the nation toward a combination of tariffs, tax incentives, and regulatory relief to support American manufacturers. The bill furthers this agenda and includes an initial step towards the Defense Department’s Golden Dome initiative to safeguard the homeland from Chinese missiles.
The next phase involves establishing the freedom cities that the President advocated for during his previous campaign, aiming to “reopen the frontier, rekindle American ingenuity, [and offer] … a fresh opportunity for homeownership and, indeed, the American dream.” Connecting America’s primary geopolitical challenge with deindustrialization and societal discontent, then-candidate Trump emphasized the need for this transformative approach.
The administration is now in a position to tackle these interconnected issues by designating tax-free air and maritime opportunity zones in locations along all three U.S. coasts (Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of America), as well as in cities surrounding the Great Lakes and their tributaries.
Each city has the potential to generate sustainable demand for advanced marine vessels, many of which could serve dual purposes and infrastructure needs.
These economic clusters would usher in an era of maritime innovation, fortifying the allied maritime industrial base.
This initiative would bring America back into the forefront and create opportunities for strategic collaboration with partners such as Japan and South Korea.
Conversely, individuals representing hostile foreign adversaries like China should be excluded from relevant laboratories and startups. Crucial investments in research protection and counterintelligence are imperative to prevent American research and development from further empowering Beijing’s influence over global maritime trade.
Life on the water supporting hands-on industries inherently holds allure. By building these cities, individuals will be drawn to contribute to the substantial rebuilding effort initiated by the President.
To the delight and anticipation of Americans—and to the dismay of our adversaries—America is on the brink of recommitting to core industries, homeland defense, and maritime ingenuity.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.
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