Tillman is portrayed as patriotic but fiscally calculating: he did not want the United States to make itself weak, yet he preferred Britain to keep paying much of the cost of global maritime security. American trade still depended on stable sea lanes, and domestic self-sufficiency would not insulate prices from disruption elsewhere. The United States therefore needed credible naval participation without immediately replacing the Royal Navy's worldwide role. Even a limited national contribution buys influence over how collective forces protect national economic interests, an alliance principle that extends beyond this bargain.
Chapter · 29:19-31:17
A stronger US Navy without replacing Britain
Tillman's imagined maritime policy seeks enough American strength to shape sea-lane security while leaving much of the global burden to Britain.