Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:27:06-1:28:48

How a 1920s South American arms race could break the treaty holiday

Major warship orders outside the treaty powers would keep British and American yards active while making a general building holiday difficult to sustain.

Arms ExportsNaval Arms RaceShipbuildingSouth American NaviesWashington Naval Treaty
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Would another South American naval arms race in the 1920s break the treaty system?

Short answer

Probably, because active construction outside the agreement would undermine both the political logic and industrial effect of a continued building holiday.

Notes

A renewed South American naval arms race could place orders for treaty-compliant ships in British and American yards. Those orders would keep infrastructure and skilled construction capacity active during the capital-ship holiday. New ships outside the leading powers' own programs would also put political pressure on continued restraint. The extent of that pressure depends on how many countries buy ships and how large their orders become. At minimum, the scenario questions whether the next treaty could extend the building holiday.