Sept. 2, 2025, 7:41 p.m.

Columns and Opinions

  • views:269

Why is the US Navy planning a larger scale celebration?

image

Recently, a news has attracted widespread attention from the international community: the US Navy is intensively planning a larger scale celebration event. According to US media reports, this celebration is expected to be held this autumn to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Navy. On the surface, this may seem like a celebration commemorating the history of the navy, but upon closer examination, there are complex political, military, and social intentions behind it.

From a political perspective, this is closely related to the political ecology within the United States. US President Trump's dissatisfaction with the Army parade in June this year was an important trigger. On June 14th, the US Army held its largest military parade in decades in Washington D.C. to commemorate the Army's 250th anniversary, costing approximately $30 million. But after the parade, Trump expressed disappointment to his aides, believing that the scene was not grand enough, and hoped that the Navy could present a more stunning spectacle, especially the spectacular display of ships at sea. Trump's attitude reflects his emphasis on military parades and other activities that showcase national strength and image. In his view, a grand naval celebration is not only a tribute to the history of the navy, but also an excellent opportunity to showcase the powerful military power of the United States under his administration, thereby consolidating its political support domestically. By hosting such a large-scale celebration, Trump is attempting to convey a signal to the public about the strength of the US military and the prosperity of the country, adding chips to his political agenda and future political layout.

From a military perspective, there are multiple considerations for the US Navy to hold large-scale celebrations. The US Navy has always been an important supporting force for its global strategic layout. In the current international situation, the United States is facing military competition and challenges from various aspects. On the one hand, in the great power game, the United States needs to constantly demonstrate its naval strength to maintain its dominant position in global maritime affairs.

Through large-scale celebration activities, advanced naval equipment and sophisticated naval forces can be showcased to deter potential opponents. For example, the US Navy has powerful naval forces such as 11 super nuclear powered aircraft carriers and 9 amphibious assault ships. The display of these equipment during the celebration is undoubtedly a declaration of the US Navy's formidable combat power to the world. On the other hand, the significant milestone of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Navy is also an opportunity for the US Navy to review itself and declare its future strategic planning. During the celebration, new military strategic concepts and future directions for naval development may be showcased, guiding international public opinion in the military field and gaining discourse power.

From a societal perspective, large-scale naval celebrations also have a certain impact. For the American people, a grand naval celebration can inspire their patriotism and national pride. The United States is a country that emphasizes military glory and national strength. As an important symbol of American military power, the navy's celebration activities can make the people feel the strength of the country, enhance their sense of identity and cohesion towards the country. In addition, such celebration activities also provide a common focus of attention for American society, to some extent alleviating some internal conflicts and differences. During the preparation and hosting of the celebration, it can also drive the development of related industries such as tourism, catering, culture, etc., promote short-term economic growth, and create certain economic benefits for society.

However, the large-scale celebration planned by the US Navy also faces many problems and doubts. Firstly, there is the issue of funding. Holding such a large-scale celebration inevitably requires a huge investment of funds. In the current situation where the United States is facing many domestic issues, such as economic recovery pressure and increased demand for social welfare, it is controversial whether it is reasonable to allocate a large amount of funds to celebration activities. Secondly, from an international perspective, in the context of global advocacy for peace and development, the high-profile display of military power by the US Navy may exacerbate regional tensions, trigger unrest and resentment among other countries, and be detrimental to international peace and stability.

The US Navy is planning a larger scale celebration, which is the result of a combination of political, military, social, and other factors. This measure is not only based on the considerations of the United States' own strategy and interests, but also faces many practical problems and challenges. The final outcome of its hosting and its impact on the United States and the international community deserve our continuous attention and in-depth analysis.

Recommend

U.S. Trade Policy: The Economic Ripples and Trend Analysis Triggered by the Tariff Ruling​

On August 29 (local time), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled by a 7-4 vote that multiple "universal tariffs" imposed by the Trump administration under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were ultra vires and illegal.

Latest