Photo: U.S. Navy Ohio Class Submarine
By José Carlos Palma*
In the annals of geopolitical maneuvering, the year 2010 stands as a pivotal moment when the United States, under the Obama Administration, orchestrated a compelling and strategic demonstration of maritime dominance. The scene was set in the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions were simmering, and China’s ascent as a formidable power was becoming increasingly evident.
Contextualizing the Era
The early 2010s were marked by a whirlwind of global events, from the signing of the technocratic Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (Obamacare) to populist uprisings worldwide. Amidst this backdrop, China emerged as a focal point, signaling its potential to become a regional hegemon in Northeast Asia, challenging the longstanding dominance of the United States.
In this unfolding narrative, maritime power became a critical element, with China embarking on an unprecedented naval expansion. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) doubled its force size from roughly 100 maritime platforms in 2000 to over 200 by 2005. This expansion laid the groundwork for a new era of geopolitical competition, prompting a strategic response from the United States.
The Maritime Chessboard: U.S. Navy’s Calculated Move
June 2010 witnessed a calculated move that sent shockwaves through global maritime geopolitics. In an act of strategic signaling, the U.S. Navy ordered three Ohio-Class SSBN submarines to surface simultaneously in the Philippines’s Subic Bay. The Ohio-Class submarines, nuclear-powered and armed with Trident II missiles, conveyed an unambiguous message – the United States retained control over the seas.
Each of these Ohio-Class submarines could carry 24 Trident II missiles, making the combined payload an overwhelming 72 ballistic missiles. The symbolism was profound, representing a powerful assertion of naval dominance and a direct response to China’s burgeoning maritime capabilities.
The Lingering Echoes: China’s Continued Naval Ascendancy
While the U.S. Navy’s 2010 submarine surfacing served as a warning, subsequent years saw China persisting in its naval ambitions. Between 2015 and 2020, China achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the U.S. Navy numerically, fielding approximately 360 warships compared to the American fleet.
This shift in the balance of naval power underscored the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations and highlighted the imperative for sustained strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
Lessons for Today: Navigating Geopolitical Seas
As the Biden administration grapples with contemporary geopolitical challenges, the historical resonance of the 2010 submarine incident remains relevant. The Indo-Pacific continues to be a theater of strategic importance, demanding a nuanced and comprehensive approach to maintaining stability.
In a world where maritime dominance equates to geopolitical influence, the submerged symphony of the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-Class submarines in 2010 serves as a compelling chapter in the ongoing narrative of global power dynamics. The lessons learned from that strategic maneuver echo through time, offering insights into the complexities of asserting influence on the vast and dynamic stage of international waters.
* Expert in international relations, such as foreign policy, international trade, domestic security, international security, developing nations, domestic security, intelligence, IT Consultant, world history, political consultant, and military analysis.
The International Studies of Strategic and Geopolitics (ISSG) is a not-for-profit policy research organization dedicated to studying the world’s greatest challenges.