Navies of landlocked countries

While these states are unable to develop a sea-going, blue-water navy, they may still deploy armed forces on major lakes or rivers.

In some regions, roads may be unreliable or circuitous, and a river or lake may be the easiest way to move military forces around the country.

Sometimes, possession of a body of water may actually be contested – for example, countries around the landlocked Caspian Sea have different views of how ownership should be divided.

Some landlocked navies possess troop or vehicle transports, allowing ground forces to cross or travel along a lake or river.

Other countries operate water-based military forces without actually establishing an independent navy—instead, responsibility may be given to a branch of a different service.