One Piece: Why The Navy Might Betray The Government

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The following article contains spoilers for One Piece.

With the story of One Piece entering its final arc, fans are eagerly anticipating whether Luffy will achieve his goal of becoming the Pirate King and his crew will discover the legendary treasure. Recent events have shed light on the New World and those in power, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the World Nobles don’t share the same goals as the government and many Marines.

The Marines started as the main villains, but many of their officers are actually good people just trying to do their jobs and keep others safe. Fans have long predicted that some Navy members would eventually turn against the current system, and the story’s climax could be much stronger if high-ranking officials either switched sides or started a revolt against the nobles. Let’s take a closer look at how the Navy and the government interact within the series.

The World Government in One Piece

The series takes place in a world largely controlled by the World Government, an alliance of over 170 countries. Most people, however, live on islands spread across a vast ocean called the Blue Sea. The World Government is ruled by a small, elite group known as the World Nobles, or Celestial Dragons. At the very top of this group are the Five Elders, a council of the five most powerful leaders.

  • The World Government strives to maintain global peace and stability. Though it’s made up of cooperating countries, it acts as if it controls the entire world through a complex system of rules and authorities. Important decisions are made by the Five Elders and during the Levely meetings. Similar to any government, it depends on courts, law enforcement, and the military to keep order, with the Marines serving as a key part of this system.

    The idea is that no one person holds ultimate power, symbolized by the Empty Throne. But secretly, Imu actually controls everything from that throne.

Pirates as Symbols of Dissatisfaction

Image via Toei Animation.

Pirates are essentially criminals who attack ships and coastal areas, especially in a region called the Blue Sea. They typically operate in groups, known as crews, and there are often large rewards offered for their capture. While often portrayed as greedy and heartless, the world of One Piece shows us many pirates who are actually kind-hearted adventurers searching for valuable treasures, such as the Straw Hat Crew.

As the story unfolded and explored the complex political landscape, it became apparent that many of the seemingly “good” pirates actually stand against the World Government. While groups like the Revolutionary Army actively try to overthrow the government, not every pirate who challenges the current system wants to join such movements.

The Role of Marines in Keeping the Status Quo

The Marines and the Navy are the main forces responsible for maintaining order at sea, handling both law enforcement and military conflicts. They function as a combined police and military organization, taking on law enforcement duties that typically fall outside the scope of regular military forces. While part of a larger governmental control system that also includes groups like the Seraphim, Cipher Pol, and the secretive Holy Knights, they serve as the primary military branch. The government previously had an arrangement with the Seven Warlords – a group of powerful pirates who received protection in return for assisting the government when needed. Here’s a look at the organizations officially under government control:

  • Marines: primary military force;
  • Cipher Pol: intelligence and police organization;
  • Seraphim: the Government’s ultimate cyborg weapons (they replaced the Seven Warlords);
  • Holy Knights (in the shadows).

Following the Summit War, the Marines relocated their main headquarters to New Marineford in the New World, previously located in Paradise. Like any global military force, they maintain various branches and bases worldwide. Initially presented as primary villains, the story gradually expanded to explore the complex organization behind the Marines, though they remain opposing forces.

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Despite publicly promoting justice and peace, the Navy often acts questionably and uses more force than necessary. Corruption is widespread among its leaders, and lower-ranking officers often feel compelled to follow orders they believe are wrong due to the strict chain of command. This has led many viewers to believe that honorable officers will eventually rise up against the Navy and the government. We’ve already seen examples of this, such as with Monkey D. Dragon, who has openly rebelled.

Is a Rebellion within the Navy Even Possible?

As we’ve seen, a revolt within the Marines is not just possible, but many expect it to happen. The existence of the Revolutionary Army shows that a lot of people are unhappy with the current system, especially those who originally joined the Marines wanting to help others, not to cover up wrongdoing. Some fans believe that many admirals might refuse to fight Luffy, even if they don’t actively join a rebellion – Fujitora is often singled out as someone likely to side against the government.

The series has been steadily revealing that the Nobles from the New World possess power far beyond anything we’ve seen, and this could be setting the stage for a rebellion. While the Marines were initially the main villains, introducing even stronger enemies opens up the possibility of conflict within the Marines themselves, creating a more complex storyline where even Admirals might challenge their superiors. The existence of SWORD, a group of former Marines still operating under the Navy’s banner, strongly hints at this coming conflict. However, it would be disappointing if all the Admirals turned against the government – we still need strong opposition. After the major war, Koby could potentially take charge and lead a completely new Navy.

I’ve noticed it’s easy to fall into the habit of blaming others for your problems and expecting them to fix things for you. But honestly, it seems like a real lack of self-reliance, doesn’t it? It feels like passing the buck instead of taking responsibility.

— Koby

Even though the Revolutionary Army is fighting against the current system, they aren’t trying to destroy the government completely – they want to remove the World Nobles who are really in charge. So, it’s probable that the way the world is governed won’t change drastically by the end of the story, but we’ll likely see a new, improved leadership – maybe one that’s less focused on central control. It would be really interesting to see a split within the Navy, or some kind of internal conflict where different groups disagree about whether to support or oppose the existing government, as the story comes to a close.

One Piece is available to read on MANGA Plus.

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2026-02-24 02:08