The exchange turns the earlier discussion of status ships into a blunt answer. The Imperial Japanese Navy was designed to deter Britain and the United States, with insufficient force to open a war against both. Yonai also dismissed German and Italian support as unable to change that calculation. The risk-fleet comparison shows how the threat of losses could discourage an attack even though the fleet lacked the depth for a prolonged coalition war.
Notable Point · 15:18-15:47
Why Yonai doubted war with Britain and America
Asked whether Japan could defeat Britain and the United States, Yonai's reported answer describes a deterrent fleet without the force structure for such a war.