The Historical Dimension of Maritime Order

Naval power has long represented the primary instrument through which great powers have constructed, defended, and legitimized regional and global orders. History demonstrates that maritime supremacy has never been a purely military goal, but rather a means of ensuring political stability, facilitating economic exchange, and imposing rules accepted, whether voluntarily or reluctantly, by other states.

In the Indo-Pacific this historical perspective returns with renewed force, because the present disputes between the United States and China are not an isolated phenomenon but instead part of a tradition stretching back two centuries, where hegemonic naval powers shaped world politics.

This analysis answers: What is the central argument of “The Historical Dimension of Maritime Order”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets? What does this mean for European defence funding, procurement and investment decisions? How mature and defensible is the position described in “The Historical Dimension of Maritime Order”? Which European actors, programmes and funding instruments are most exposed?