The Battle for American Sovereignty: The Jones Act, European Meddling, and the Future of U.S. Industry

Original article here

The United States has always been a nation that thrives on competition, innovation, and resilience. We led the world in industrialization, pioneered aviation, sent men to the moon, and built the strongest economy the world has ever known. America is not just a country; it is an idea—the idea that freedom, enterprise, and hard work will triumph. But this triumph is only possible when we maintain control over our industries, protect our national security, and refuse to be outmaneuvered by foreign powers looking to undermine our economic sovereignty.

The latest front in this battle for American self-determination comes in the form of an attack on the Jones Act—a critical maritime law designed to keep American shipping, shipbuilding, and national security strong. And who’s leading the charge? The European Union. Yes, while American workers are focused on building a clean energy future and securing our coastlines, foreign interests are waging an influence campaign aimed at dismantling the very laws that keep American industries competitive.

On October 17, 2024, StorySquad Media, a small U.S. media company, filed a disclosure under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), revealing it had been hired to produce anti-Jones Act content. The client? IBF Connect SA, a Belgian consulting firm that works for the European Commission, European Parliament, and other EU bodies. The goal? A coordinated influence operation, funded by the European Commission, to create TikTok-style videos and messaging aimed at weakening American maritime protections.

Their playbook is simple: sway public opinion, pressure policymakers, and open U.S. waters to European companies at the expense of American jobs. The documents reveal a broader effort to hold private meetings, publish op-eds, and target U.S. coastal communities with anti-Jones Act messaging. They’re not just here to criticize—they’re here to dismantle a law that ensures American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships transport goods between U.S. ports.

Let’s be clear: The Jones Act is not just about shipping. It is a linchpin of American sovereignty across multiple industries, including clean energy. Offshore wind development and coastal dredging—both essential for America’s energy and infrastructure future—are directly protected by the Jones Act. If the EU succeeds in weakening it, European companies will be free to dominate America’s emerging wind energy sector, capturing profits and technology that should be fueling U.S. innovation and jobs.

Beyond the economic implications, there are grave national security concerns. The Jones Act ensures that U.S. waterways are controlled by American vessels, reducing the risk of foreign entities gaining undue influence over our shipping routes, ports, and critical infrastructure. At a time when geopolitical tensions are rising and the Middle East is experiencing turmoil that could send waves of instability across the globe, it would be reckless to allow foreign interests to dictate U.S. maritime policy.

The EU’s campaign against the Jones Act is not an isolated incident—it is part of a larger, troubling trend where foreign powers use media, lobbying, and digital influence to manipulate public perception. Whether it’s China using social media to sow division, Russia engaging in election interference, or the EU pushing economic self-interest under the guise of “free trade,” Americans must be vigilant against external forces attempting to reshape our policies to their advantage.

We have seen this story before. It starts with foreign-funded think tanks publishing op-eds, progresses to seemingly grassroots media campaigns, and before you know it, legislation is proposed that weakens American industries in the name of “efficiency” or “cost reduction.” But who benefits? Not the American worker. Not the American economy. Not our national security. The beneficiaries are foreign governments and corporations eager to cash in on a weakened United States.

The Jones Act is not a relic of the past—it is a safeguard for America’s future. If we want to lead in clean energy, we must build the infrastructure ourselves. If we want to protect our coastal economy and security, we must ensure American hands are on the wheel. If we want to continue being the world’s leader in industry and innovation, we cannot outsource our sovereignty.

It’s time for a renewed commitment to American dominance in all industries worth engaging in. We need to strengthen the Jones Act, not weaken it. Investing in American shipbuilding and maritime industries will create jobs and ensure national security. Additionally, pushing back against foreign influence campaigns that seek to undermine U.S. policy through deceptive media and lobbying efforts is key.

A ”Great America” will dominate clean energy on her own terms, ensuring that wind, solar, and new technologies are built by American workers, with American ingenuity, for American benefit. We must recognize the geopolitical stakes, understanding that economic sovereignty is as critical as military strength in securing America’s future.

The EU’s attack on the Jones Act is an attack on American strength. We can either stand tall, protect our industries, and lead the world, or we can roll over and let foreign interests dictate our future. The choice is ours—but history shows that when America fights, America wins.

***

Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, cybersecurity researcher, founder of ItFunk.Org, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cybersecurity and politics, is regularly published by many of the largest news organizations in the world.