Sea Denial

Sea denial is the ability to prevent an adversary from using a maritime area, without necessarily being able to use it oneself, the strategy of the weaker naval power and the core of anti-access and area-denial concepts. It relies on submarines, mines, shore-based anti-ship missiles, and fast attack craft rather than command of the surface. A force pursuing sea denial does not need a fleet that can win command; it needs enough threat to make the area too costly for the stronger navy to enter.