In the picture
Close-up of the cover of GAJ #7 [KEN].
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PRESENTATION
The sea, in the middle
Today, the sea occupies a particularly central place in geopolitics. This was already the case when the usual world map showed America on the left and Eurasia and Africa on the right, but it is even more so now that, as the world axis shifts to the Indo-Pacific, our eyes are met in the center by an enormous blue area. Questions of overpopulation on the coasts, the depletion of natural resources on land and the intensity of interconnections through trade flows, cables and pipelines are drawing a picture of a humanity that is more oriented to the sea than ever before, giving maritime power an absolute importance.
This issue of Global Affairs Journal focuses on this defining reality of the new strategic context in which the world finds itself. First, Gonzalo Vázquez, coordinator this issue, deals with the contours of maritime power, understood as the capacity of states to use the sea and its resources for their own benefit: this includes trade across the oceans and the exploitation of what the sea and its subsoil have to offer, as well as naval power to ensure that presence or prevent that of others.
The change of focus in the geopolitics of this first half of the 21st century -from land to sea- is symbolized by the prospect of a war over Taiwan, going from Mackinder's reflections, corroborated by the conflict in Ukraine, to those defended by Mahan, which are basically very intertwined, as Josep Baqués sees it.
Next, Fernando Ibáñez examines the importance of trade in a globalized world and the need to ensure its security in the face of phenomena such as piracy, while Augusto Conte de los Ríos deals with an increasingly critical aspect: deep sea mining and the laying of submarine cables.
For Spain, a new maritime century should be an opportunity to rediscover its vocation to be open to the sea. Christian D. Villanueva reviews Spain's notoriety in shipbuilding and argues for a strategic national commitment.
CONTENTS
Influence of the sea on strategic thinking and the prosperity of nations I Gonzalo Vázquez Orbaiceta (co) [PDF] [PDF]
From Mackinder to Mahan: From Ukraine to Taiwan I Josep Baqués Quesada [PDF] [PDF]
Piracy's effect on maritime routes I Fernando Ibáñez Gómez [PDF]
Threats to security: The seabed and critical infrastructures I Augusto Conte de los Ríos [PDF]
Spain and its maritime vocation. From shipbuilding to recreational sailing I Christian D. Villanueva López [PDF]