Amphibious presence without a permanent footprint

China and Russia were building LHDs, while France operated the Mistral class and Australia the Canberra class, because these ships keep sizeable forces available offshore. They can provide presence and deterrence while a government adjusts how much of the force goes ashore. That posture signals military options without immediately creating a permanent base or a large land deployment. If a crisis turns violent, the same maritime force can shift from demonstration to intervention.