The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2026, which includes provisions aimed at countering China’s expansion into the Pacific. The bill contains incentives to promote the establishment of shipyards and specifies that within 60 days of the bill’s implementation, a report must be submitted assessing the potential for foreign shipyards to establish subsidiaries or invest in the U.S., with a particular priority given to South Korean and Japanese companies. This indicates an intention to bolster shipbuilding through alliances, targeting the resurgence of the shipbuilding industry to enhance competitiveness against rapidly advancing Chinese naval power.
Additionally, the NDAA reintroduced language to prevent unilateral U.S. troop reductions in South Korea, a move seen as restraining decisions similar to those made during the Trump administration. This reflects a strategic effort to maintain the current U.S. troop presence due to the importance of the first island chain defense strategy emphasized in the National Security Strategy (NSS).
The act also mandates the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report within 60 days on promoting new private shipyards on the Pacific coast, specifically mentioning priority for South Korean and Japanese companies. This suggests an intention to bolster U.S. shipbuilding capabilities through collaborations with allies like South Korea and Japan, recognizing the diminished state of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Furthermore, the NDAA places limitations on the unilateral reduction of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and Europe. The act prohibits using the approved budget to reduce the troop level in South Korea below the current 28,500. This aligns with the NSS’s emphasis on the first island chain defense, suggesting that the reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea is unlikely amidst heightened focus on countering China.
The NDAA also repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) enacted during the Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War in 2002, which had previously allowed the president to declare war without Congress’s approval. This move aims to check impulsive actions bypassing Congress, reflecting concerns over past decisions from the Trump administration.
Finally, the NDAA authorizes $8 billion in additional military aid and provides significant support for allies and strategic partners like Israel, Taiwan, and Iraq. The total defense budget for the fiscal year 2026 is set at $901 billion, $8 billion more than the initial request, according to the New York Times.