Editing Openai/69422be7-d6e0-8008-aef1-a42491fae402 (section)

==== 2. Tit-for-Tat Retaliation and Escalation ====

Nearly every government could be accused—credibly—of:
* Human rights violations
* Corruption
* Repression
* Environmental harm
* Support for violent actors

If unilateral blockades became normalized:
* Countries would retaliate against each other
* Allies of targeted states would counter-blockade
* Trade routes would become militarized
* Neutral shipping would be routinely intercepted

Result:
Escalation becomes the norm. Even limited enforcement actions carry a constant risk of:
* Accidental clashes
* Miscalculations
* Rapid military escalation

History shows that blockades are often precursors to war, whether intended or not.