An empire defended from the Atlantic and Indian Ocean

The Royal Navy could no longer rely on rapid movement through the Mediterranean to reinforce the east. Britain might need an Atlantic fleet and an Indian Ocean fleet, backed by a much more substantial naval centre at Bombay, while a smaller Mediterranean squadron could remain. The empire would have to pay for two support systems because distant forces could not quickly reinforce one another. Gibraltar retains a role in controlling the Mediterranean entrance, while Malta and Alexandria become less compelling investments. Britain might even return Malta to the Knights of St John if the island no longer justified a major naval commitment, although this is explicitly speculative.