Continental powers, maritime opponents and wars of choice

What can a continental power do to deal with a maritime power?

Usually it must build a navy, while recognizing that land borders and dependencies can reduce its freedom to choose wars.

A continental power confronting a maritime power will usually need to build a navy. Sea control can give a state more choice about when and where to fight when its borders are maritime. Land borders expose a state to conflicts arriving directly at its territory. Dependencies with land borders can also create commitments that a maritime state cannot readily choose away. Poland, Belgium and recurring conflict in the Middle East provide examples of this exposure. Possessing a navy does not make every war optional while those other commitments remain.