Italy and its territories sat across the Gibraltar-to-Alexandria route that fed into the Suez Canal. This corridor was an east-west superhighway for Britain's global economy and empire, a role still visible in modern trade maps. The Mediterranean Fleet guarded that traffic while serving as the Royal Navy's global reaction force. Its position was far enough east to respond toward Japan yet close enough to Britain for ships to return for major repair and support.
Chapter · 32:18-34:16
Italy threatened Britain's imperial maritime highway
Italy's capable fleet sat across the route linking Gibraltar, Suez, the British Empire, and the Far East.