Threats rise and fall, while an island trading state's exposure to disruption at sea persists even in quieter periods. Escort numbers, dry-dock capacity, and the need to react quickly to an unexpected crisis show why a force built only around the immediate threat lacks resilience. Cybersecurity provides a partial contrast: threats remain fairly constant because an attacker could be an individual or a nation-state, so risk management continues almost constantly. This distinction between permanent exposure and changing danger frames the review of Royal Navy policy after the Cold War.
Chapter · 4:13-8:33
Risk and threat in maritime planning
Enduring maritime risks, such as trade protection, differ from visible threats that governments find easier to fund against.