Designing layered coastal defense

A country faces rising pressure around its coastal and offshore zones, including contested vessels, surveillance gaps, and the need for faster response times. Analyze how a modern layered defense strategy could be designed for these waters. Consider the roles of coast guards, unmanned systems, intelligence sharing, legal authority, and civilian-military coordination. What are the trade-offs between deterrence, escalation risk, cost, and flexibility, and how should policymakers decide where to invest first?