[The United States] Navy stands ready to deploy a second carrier to the region, as it did earlier this year. In so doing, it is stretching the Navy to the breaking point, given its commitments in the Western Pacific and the Mediterranean. ...
The shortfall in both American and British warships is especially worrying with regard to the eastern Baltic Sea, where Russian forces loom large, and whose littoral includes five NATO allies. While the Baltic states are too small to field major navies, Poland and Germany likewise have allowed their naval forces to atrophy. The German Navy is barely operational; most of its ships are tied up in port. The Polish Navy is hardly better; the Polish fleet is desperately in need of modernization.
Although the Mediterranean Sea really doesn't stress us because other than the committed ABM destroyers and a command ship stationed in Europe, most of our Mediterranean Sea presence is done by ships transiting the sea to and from the Arabian Sea. It is a phantom fleet whose influence is mainly the memories of when it was a Cold War armada.
The Baltic states should focus more on coastal defense artillery and missiles. Poland has an excuse in that it needs to focus on ground and air power. Yet Poland is still planning a major upgrade by purchasing submarines.
Germany, the European economic powerhouse, should be a leading Baltic Sea naval power, with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, and France reinforcing their leading presence. Sweden could have a role as an associated power.
Have no doubt that if NATO doesn't shape up in the Baltic that even Russia's limited fleet may be able to carry out its missions in the Baltic Sea against NATO.
Sadly, the German navy is "barely operational." As I've noted.
