The modern convoy force-structure problem

Convoys need escorts, warehouses, and administrative structures before a crisis begins. Modern Western navies have emphasized top-end combatants, raising the question of whether scarce high-value ships can cover trade in secondary theaters. Container services connect many ports like bus routes, so an attack off Africa or in the Mediterranean can disrupt distant markets; recent Red Sea insecurity shows the difficulty of coordinating states and shipping firms around convoy timetables. Choosing higher insurance costs instead does not eliminate the burden because firms pass those costs to consumers.