Where future maritime great powers may emerge

Will another great power with a maritime identity emerge?

Medium powers or Western Pacific coalitions are possible candidates, and the discussion also speculates about maritime-style institutions in future space powers.

Maritime power depends on sustained technological investment and a society oriented toward the sea. Medium sea-power states can still exercise global influence, even if a new state matching Britain's historical position seems unlikely. Japan and South Korea depend heavily on maritime trade, while the Philippines is a large island chain dependent on sea access. Those shared interests could encourage a NATO-like or EU-like regional grouping in the Western Pacific. Such a coalition is one possible way to protect and advance maritime interests, with no particular country identified as a certain future dominant power. The opening speculation looks beyond Earth, hoping that future space powers will resemble maritime states and arguing that their operating demands will push them in that direction.