News - Yemen: Brigadier General Mojaib Shamsan, a Yemeni military and strategic affairs expert, has argued that the challenges faced by the US Navy in the Red Sea stem from a deep-seated "structural crisis" undermining American sea power, from its shipyards and supply chains to a shortage of skilled labor.

In an analysis, Shamsan posited that the United States, long the dominant global naval power, is experiencing a clear decline in its productive and logistical capacity. He attributed this to weak government support for shipbuilding, a lack of sustained investment in the sector, and a loss of skilled workers despite financial incentives.

Shamsan referenced Western reports, including a Forbes article, indicating the US lost its shipbuilding lead in the 1980s. He cited a stark production gap with China—reportedly 100 ships to 1 in Beijing's favor—enabling China to near dominance in global commercial shipbuilding. He noted that the US flag now represents only about 1% of global shipping tonnage, a sign of eroded maritime influence.

The expert pointed to the US Navy's "Navigation Plan 33" strategy announced in September 2024, which aimed to boost readiness and deploy up to 80% of the fleet. He claimed this plan has remained "ink on paper" due to funding shortfalls and logistical support unable to cover ship repair, dockyard upgrades, and labor recruitment costs.

Shamsan extended the critique to broader U.S. defense industries, referencing a New York Times report on struggles to develop new weapons systems at a competitive pace and replenish stockpiles during unexpected conflicts, despite massive defense spending.

He argued that the confrontation in the Red Sea has exposed the limitations of traditional platforms like aircraft carriers against complex tactics employing ballistic missiles, drones, and precision-guided munitions. This has drained air defense capabilities and forced frequent returns to port for resupply, highlighting an apparent inability to produce defensive missiles in required quantities.

According to Shamsan, the events in the Red Sea represent not a mere tactical setback but a "strategic defeat." The failure to secure the vital waterway or protect Israeli shipping, despite a massive military deployment over two years, challenges core U.S. deterrence narratives and naval doctrine designed for global dominance.

The analyst concluded that the "Yemeni model" demonstrated that will and asymmetric doctrine can counter material superiority, potentially having wide strategic implications for global power balances and the future of US naval hegemony. 

The prolonged campaign by Yemen's Armed Forces against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea has presented a unique and persistent challenge to US naval operations. The conflict has raised questions about the efficacy of expensive, traditional naval assets against relatively low-cost asymmetric threats like drones and missiles. Concurrently, there is ongoing debate in Western defense circles about the U.S. industrial base's capacity to maintain its military edge, particularly against China.