Israel's New Front: The Sea

Netanyahu’s Oct. 4, 2026 remarks about naval development signal a shift in Israel’s security posture toward building maritime power, according to the analysis. The piece argues Israel has long relied mainly on air superiority, land forces, intelligence, and technology, and now increasingly treats the sea as a pillar of national security, economic continuity, and power projection. During a visit to Ashdod Naval Base with Defense Minister Katz, Netanyahu referenced developments in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb and Israel’s Mediterranean maritime risks, including INS Drakon, the sixth submarine being built in Germany. The analysis stresses that possessing naval force isn’t the same as having broader maritime power, citing constraints such as limited sustained presence, protecting sea lines of communication, and strategic depth.