The Politics of Blue Economy

Throughout the history, Oceans have served as the backbone of strategic economy and naval supremacy for the nations. They act as highways for global trade, arenas for conflicts and gateways to the corridors of power. A 19th-century American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan in his seminal work “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History” used a maxim, “The one who controls the seas, rules the world”, that vividly demonstrates the indispensable significance of mighty bodies of water.

History has shown time and again that while ruling empires may collapse and hegemonies may fade, nations, having full access and control of seas, continue to yield lasting return and rule the world. Undoubtedly, the control of seas has reinforced nation’s rule over the world, enhanced its naval power and fostering their economies through the trade routes. Multifarious events are documented in the annals of the history, where ancient empires thrived their economies and even choked global economies through the shipping lanes.

The ancient civilizations flourished near water bodies. The rise of Rome, as the ultimate hegemon of its time, was solely due to authority over The Mediterranean Sea. The Romans exultantly called Mare Nostrum (our sea), as the lifeline of the empire. The Roman naval supremacy ensured the transport of grains from Egypt, troops across provinces, and goods from distant lands. Without the control over the Mediterranean, Rome could not have sustained its vast empire.

By the 17th century, the Great Britain’s colonialism was facilitated due to its naval dominance. “The empire on which the sun never sets” is a famous phrase used historically to describe the British Empire at its height in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Royal Navy enabled Britain to establish colonies across North America, Asia and the Pacific. The British Empire’s global reach was sustained by its ability to control the sea lanes, protect merchant shipping and project military power across oceans.

The famous line, “Britannia rules the waves”, taken from the poem written in 1740 by James Thomson – A famous Scottish poet and playwright, was not mere rhetoric: it was the reflection of Britain’s unparalleled naval supremacy, which allowed it to dominate global trade and politics for centuries.

Moreover, Britain further flashed its naval power at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The crushing defeat and humiliation for Napoleon Bonaparte compelled him to impose ‘the Continental System’ in response. It was a large-scale economic embargo imposed by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte against the British Empire between 1806 and 1814. But his mission drastically failed, proving that oceans are out of human control.

Beyond the military considerations, control of seas has immense economic significance. Even today, over 90% of global trade is carried by sea. Trade routes and shipping lanes act as the arteries of global strategic economy, allowing a country to achieve prosperous economy, making it developed,and enhancing its control over the world. Blocking these trade routes-transporting oil and goods, can lead the world towards calamitous economic apocalypse.

For instance, the recent blockage of The Strait of Hormuz, during the US-Iran war 2026, paralyzed a critical global chokepoint-only 21 miles wide and narrowest strip-that typically funnels roughly 20% of world’s petroleum and liquefied natural gas. This event forced soaring global inflation, severe energy shocks, and massive disruptions to international trade and shipping lanes.

Therefore,it illustrates how Control of Strait is synonymous with the control of global energy markets. So, Iran’s asymmetric approach and its control of strait reflects recognition and acknowledgement of the maxim: while it cannot rule the world through sea power, it can challenge American hegemony and its dominance by contesting control of critical water. So, naval dominance ensures not only economic prosperity but also national security.

Furthermore, today in the modern era, the United States has maintained enduring global naval dominance, boasting an unmatched capability for technological sophistication and nuclear deterrence. With fleets of nuclear-powered submarines,stationed across the world and the operations of nuclear supercarriers, US Navy ensures freedom of navigation, protects trade routes, and projects power globally.

Similarly, China, being an emerging power and competitor of the US, under its “Maritime Silk Road”- a maritime component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, continues to expand its naval capabilities and reinforces its economy.

Additionally, Pakistan’s strategic location on the Arabian Sea, particularly with the development of Gwadar port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), highlights the importance of Maritime infrastructure in shaping regional geopolitics and influencing regional trade. Gwadar port provides China with direct access to the Arabian Sea, bypassing the Strait of Malacca and enhancing Pakistan’s role in regional trade and security.

To sum up, Controlling oceans has always played a key role in making nations economically stable and providing them power to rule the world. It allows nations to protect their trade routes, deter aggression and respond rapidly to crises. Naval forces can project power far beyond national borders, influencing conflicts and diplomacy.