ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sea lines of communication

Okay kiddo! So, you know how there are roads and highways that cars and trucks use to get from one place to another on land? Well, there are also roads of sorts that ships use to travel across the oceans! These are called sea lines of communication.

These "roads" are really just shipping routes that are used by large cargo ships, oil tankers, and other types of ships that carry important goods and materials from one place to another. They might travel from a port in Asia to a port in Europe, or from a port in South America to a port in North America.

These sea lines of communication are really important because they allow countries all over the world to trade with each other. For example, a country might produce a lot of oil but not have enough people to use it all, so they sell it to other countries that need it. Or, a country might produce a lot of food but not have enough people to eat it all, so they sell it to other countries that need it.

If something were to happen that blocked or disrupted these sea lines of communication, it could be really bad for everyone involved. For example, if a big storm made it impossible for ships to travel on a certain route, the people waiting for those goods on the other end might not get what they need. Or, if there was a conflict between two countries that caused one of them to block off its ports, the other countries that rely on goods from that country might be in trouble.

So, sea lines of communication are like the highways of the ocean, used by big ships to bring goods and materials from one country to another. They help countries trade with each other and get what they need, and it's important to make sure they stay open and safe!
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