Why did Bismarck want Kiel as a Prussian naval base?

During the German-Danish War, Otto von Bismarck sought the annexation of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia as part of his broader political strategy. Within this objective, he specifically intended for Kiel to serve as a Prussian naval base.1

Securing Kiel was strategically significant because of its location on the Kiel Fjord, an inlet of the western Baltic Sea. Establishing a base there provided Prussia with a vital maritime foothold, supporting the nation's growing naval ambitions and its desire to project power in the region. This strategic interest eventually aligned with the later development of the Kiel Canal, which was constructed to connect the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, further enhancing the military and commercial utility of the port.2134