Conventional Maritime Deterrence

A conceptual framework for understanding the critical role of naval operations in deterrence strategies

A future clash between the United States and China would occur across the seas, islands, and peninsulas of the Indo-Pacific region. Thus, mastering maritime deterrence—creating and displaying naval power to discourage an attack—is vital for peace.

Conventional Maritime Deterrence revives and updates our understanding of how deterrence at sea differs from its terrestrial counterpart. Adam Lockyer examines four types of maritime deterrence strategies: offensive sea control, defensive sea control, offensive sea denial, and defensive sea denial. These fleet operations showcase what crises a nation can plan to respond to, how it can intend to respond, and the likely success of these efforts. Lockyer conducts analysis of cases throughout history and also takes a deeper look at the US Maritime Strategy from the late Cold War in the Pacific, ultimately finding that the credibility of conventional maritime deterrence rests upon what a naval power can be seen to do rather than what it can do.

This book will provide policymakers, naval officers, and scholars of international relations with insight into maritime deterrence for both current and future contests.