The one who controls the sea, rules the world.

Introduction

Seventy percent of the Earth is covered by water, and most of the world's trade moves across it. From ancient Phoenicia to the British Empire and the United States, the powers that dominated the seas also shaped world affairs. The maxim that "the one who controls the sea rules the world" captures a truth of history, though in the twenty-first century sea power must be combined with economic, technological and diplomatic strength.

Mahan's theory

In The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1890), the American naval officer Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that national greatness depends on maritime commerce, a strong navy, colonies and bases, and control of key sea lanes. His ideas influenced the naval build-ups of the United States, Germany and Japan before the First World War.

Historical evidence

Portugal and Spain built global empires through ocean exploration. The Dutch Republic dominated seventeenth-century trade through its fleet. Britain's Royal Navy protected an empire "on which the sun never set" and secured the trade that financed the Industrial Revolution. In the twentieth century, the United States became a superpower partly through naval dominance in two world oceans, and its carrier fleets still underpin its global reach.

Why the sea still matters

Around 80 percent of world trade by volume travels by sea. Most oil and gas exports pass through a few chokepoints — the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal. Undersea cables carry the vast majority of international internet traffic. Oceans hold fisheries, minerals and offshore energy. Disruptions — from piracy off Somalia to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea — can raise prices worldwide. China's rapid naval expansion, ports along the Indian Ocean and disputes in the South China Sea show that rising powers still see the sea as central to their ambitions.

Counter-argument and evaluation

Critics argue that the maxim is outdated. Halford Mackinder emphasised control of the Eurasian "Heartland" by land power; air power, missiles and nuclear weapons can neutralise navies; and today's battles are fought in cyberspace and financial markets. Indeed, no state rules the world by navies alone. Yet the sea remains the arteries of the global economy, and naval power remains essential to protect trade, project force and deter rivals. The maxim is best understood today as "the one who controls the sea lanes controls the global economy".

The Indian Ocean and Pakistan

The Indian Ocean connects the energy-rich Gulf with the economies of East Asia, and is an arena of competition among the United States, China and India. Pakistan has a coastline of about 1,000 kilometres, an exclusive economic zone extended by its continental-shelf claim, and the deep-sea port of Gwadar near the Strait of Hormuz. Its trade depends overwhelmingly on the sea. Yet Pakistan has long been "sea-blind": its fisheries, shipping, shipbuilding and coastal tourism are underdeveloped, and its blue economy contributes little to GDP.

The way forward

Pakistan should: (i) develop a blue economy strategy — modern fisheries, aquaculture, ports, shipping, ship-breaking and coastal tourism; (ii) make Gwadar and Karachi efficient, connected ports; (iii) build a strong national shipping line; (iv) strengthen the Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency to protect sea lanes, EEZ and coasts, including a credible sea-based deterrent; (v) participate in multinational maritime security initiatives such as the AMAN exercise hosted by Pakistan; (vi) protect marine ecosystems and mangroves; and (vii) promote maritime education and awareness.

Conclusion

History confirms that control of the sea has been a foundation of world power. Today, maritime dominance alone cannot rule the world, but no great power can rise without it. For Pakistan, the sea is not only a frontier to defend but an economic opportunity to seize. A country that turns towards the sea can turn its geography into prosperity.