Canadian and Australian carrier operations would help protect the sea lines of communication on which both countries depend. Japan's naval strength follows the same concern for maritime access. Disruption around maritime chokepoints, Red Sea shipping and piracy illustrate why a country needs to contribute forces if it expects its interests to count. The quoted estimates attribute an overwhelming share of trade to sea transport, but vary by both volume and value without settling on a precise percentage. Undersea cables carrying most internet data add another dependence on maritime infrastructure. Avoiding the protection bill leaves valuable trade and communications exposed to people willing to reach them.
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Maritime trade and the need to protect sea routes
Canada's and Australia's reasons for operating carriers rest on their dependence on trade routes and maritime communications.