A naval vessel can be useful for maritime security even when its armament is modest. This role is easy to overlook in countries with large coast guards, where some encounters still call for the presence of a warship. The argument places weight on a warship's rights, duties, powers and responsibilities under international law. Its presence communicates that a nation state backs the force it carries. For encounters with fishing boats and other lower-level threats, that political authority can matter more than a large weapons fit. Unauthorized fishing by large fleets is the concrete example, because it can threaten the state's own fishery stocks.
Notable Point · 4:12-5:14
Warship status and authority in maritime security
A lightly armed warship can communicate state authority during maritime-security encounters, with unauthorized fishing as the example.