SMALL NAVIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD : CHALLENGES AND OPTIONS

This article examines the unique challenges and strategic options for small navies in the developing world. It argues that these navies operate under a distinct set of constraints, including limited budgets, a small industrial and technological base, and often-vast maritime areas to patrol. The study identifies the primary missions of small navies, which are typically focused on constabulary tasks within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), such as fisheries protection, anti-smuggling, and anti-piracy, rather than on high-end warfighting. The research then explores the strategic options available to these navies to maximize their effectiveness despite their limitations. These include the adoption of asymmetric strategies, a focus on coastal defense, investment in appropriate and affordable technologies, and the pursuit of regional maritime cooperation. The paper concludes that a well-conceived strategy can enable a small navy to effectively secure a country's national interests at sea.

While the study of naval strategy often focuses on the great power navies, the vast majority of the world's navies are small and operate in the developing world. This paper provides a detailed analysis of their specific challenges and options. The study begins by defining what constitutes a "small navy" and outlining the severe resource constraints under which they typically operate. The core of the article is an examination of the strategic choices that these navies must make. It argues against the temptation to create a "balanced fleet" in miniature, which often results in a force that is too small to be effective at anything. Instead, the paper advocates for a strategy of specialization, where the navy focuses on a limited set of core missions that are most relevant to the country's national interests. For most developing coastal states, the paper argues, these missions are primarily constabulary in nature: the policing of the EEZ. The study then explores the types of platforms and technologies that are most appropriate for these missions, emphasizing the value of smaller, more numerous patrol vessels over a few expensive and prestigious warships. The paper also highlights the critical importance of regional cooperation, arguing that small navies can achieve greater maritime domain awareness and a more effective presence by pooling their resources and sharing information with their neighbors. The findings suggest that through smart, asymmetrical, and cooperative strategies, small navies can play a vital role in national security and development.