With the budget strained, trade protection is treated as a way to sustain trade and grow the economy. Merchant shipping becomes part of naval power because it supplies resources for training, research, construction, and operations. Transport capacity, technology, and crew training still compete for limited naval income. The campaign's simplified finances make the economic foundation of fleet power visible.
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Merchant protection as the base of naval finance
The campaign connects trade protection to economic growth and therefore to the money available for naval expansion.