With a POD after 1900 (as designated in the group) and minimal nukes (total tonnage dropped on cities no more than 10x OTL), which Powers can reasonably end up with the Largest Navy on the planet in the year 2000?
My nominees are the USA (duh), Germany, Japan (both possible from an Axis win TL), Britain (w/ empire), and France (From a TL where France wins an Alternate World War with both Britain and possibly Germany on the other side (France+AH+OE or France+AH+Russia)
I can't see it being Russia/USSR/(power ruled from Moscow), AH, Ottomans, Italy, or Chinese and having the Indians do it alone (as opposed to as part of a transformed British Empire) seems really unlikely.
Is a Caliphate a possibility (Enough oil to fuel a huge Navy)?
Any other ideas?