WASHINGTON/ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump vowed to build a record number of ships for the US Navy during celebrations Sunday marking its 250th anniversary in an effort to strengthen the country’s naval power.

"We're going to have more great ships being built than we've ever had being built in the history of the Navy," he said during his address in Norfolk, Virginia.

"We're 25 years ahead of any other country when it comes to submarines. Nobody's even close. Nobody can match us," he added.

Trump also told naval forces that they would not be sent into battle "unless it's necessary."

Highlighting the "250 years of strength, tenacity, and unwavering courage by the greatest fighting force," he said: "No matter where you go, no matter what you even think about, there's nothing like the fighting force that we have."

He praised the Navy's role in the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer in June.

"We shot 30 tomahawks out of a submarine. Every one of them hit too. So I would say Iran was not particularly thrilled. They were going to have a nuclear weapon within a month. And now they can start the operation all over again," he said.

“But I hope they don't because we'll have to take care of that too if they do. I let them know that. You want to do that, it’s fine, but we’re going to take care of that and we’re not going to wait so long.”

During his speech, Trump said the Navy had supported the mission “to blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water in the Caribbean Sea, noting there are no boats left anymore.

"Every one of those boats is responsible for the death of 25,000 American people and the destruction of families. So when you think of it that way, what we're doing is actually an act of kindness. But we did another one last night. Now we just can't find any," he added.