President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing its most ambitious maritime strategy since the 1970s, aiming to weaken China’s global network of ports and bring more strategic terminals under Western control, sources said.
Options under review include backing US or Western firms to buy Chinese stakes in ports. One example cited was BlackRock’s proposed deal to acquire CK Hutchison’s port assets in 23 countries, including near the Panama Canal.
Washington is particularly concerned about Chinese control in Greece’s Piraeus port, Spain, the Caribbean, and even US West Coast terminals. COSCO, China’s state-owned shipping giant, already faces US scrutiny after being blacklisted by the Pentagon for military ties.
China has dismissed the US moves as “economic coercion” and “hegemonism.”
The US is also boosting domestic shipbuilding, reviewing global chokepoints like the Strait of Gibraltar, and weighing new registries to expand its fleet. In the Caribbean, China’s presence at Jamaica’s Kingston port has been flagged as a major US security risk.
Trump has further proposed fees on Chinese vessels at US ports and floated acquiring Greenland for its Arctic access. Analysts say Washington’s push reflects fears that China could use its port network for espionage or military advantage in a conflict.