Us power is disproportionately projected through command of the seas and shipping lanes in asia , and an expansion of the navy is a nod to strengthening an already powerful seaborne force .
A competitive arms race beckons-with the added twist that the navy , which would be in charge of seaborne nuclear weapons , is thought to be the branch of pakistan 's armed forces most infiltrated by extremists .
Sergei frank , the boss of sovcomflot , which carries a fifth of russia 's seaborne oil and gas exports , envisages the arctic route as a " floating pipeline " .