is the Russian transition in naval doctrine, from a powerful coastal defense force designed to protect the Homeland, to a high-endurance high seas fleet capable of projecting power across the world. The Soviets never really followed up on the full implications of this, but the Putin Navy obviously has concerns, perhaps even ambitions, in this regard. I suspect the Chinese have similar ideas, but they are not as far along.

The Royal Navy was the first to embrace this concept, followed by the Americans, and it has all sorts of implications, in weaponry, ship design, long distance supply capabilities, force structure, foreign bases, etc. Contrary to hawk doom and gloom analysts, the US is in no danger of losing its superiority any time soon. The US Navy is as big as the the next 13 navies combined, and many of those are our allies! Bt that kind of superiority cannot be maintained for longer than a generation without constant investment. And it can be lost overnight to technological breakthroughs.

And of course, even the most massive naval force can be spread too thin if its mission is too ambitious.