Station ships for distant imperial commitments

What ships might navies build to protect distant interests if more powers operated battlecruisers?

They might use battlecruisers or revive heavy armoured cruisers that were dangerous enough to deter a battlecruiser without costing as much as a battleship.

Navies needed ways to protect distant interests without buying full battleships for every station. Battlecruisers, very heavy cruisers, or a renewed armoured-cruiser type could fill that need. The useful middle course is large enough to make a battlecruiser take the threat seriously but cheaper than a first-line battleship. Overseas commitments can create warship categories between commerce protection and fleet battle.