North America and Eastern Europe in Global Geopolitics Considering Sea Power

Alberto Mudjadju"

According to Halford Mackinder, whoever controls Eastern Europe controls Hethland; whoever controls Hethland controls the island world; whoever controls the island world controls the world. Let's see, Eastern Europe is a geographic and cultural region that encompasses several Eastern European countries, including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and others. It has a complex and diverse history, influenced by various cultures and empires over the centuries. The region was influenced by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, and the Soviet Union. This region faces several challenges, such as economic development, security, and integration into the European Union, but also offers several opportunities, such as economic growth, tourism, and regional cooperation. Eastern Europe also becomes important because whoever controls this part of the world can easily control Hertland, a term also coined by Mackinder in the early 20th century to describe the Eurasian region considered the "heartland" of the continent. This region is highly strategic for world domination, given its privileged location (a strategic region from the perspective of trade, communication, and defense); rich in mineral resources (gas, oil, minerals, and other valuable resources), dense population, and critical infrastructure. This region is crucial because it offers the following: security; control of Hertland is considered crucial to national and international security; economics; it is often an important economic region with valuable natural resources; and politically, it is a center of political power and influence with implications for regional and global stability. The Hertland region refers to a central or strategic region considered crucial to the security, economy, and stability of an area. Controlling the Hertland can easily control the world island, because the world can be divided into a large central island, which includes Europe, Asia, and Africa, and several peripheral islands, such as the Americas and Australia. A concept also developed by Mackinder, where for emphasis, he says that the Eurasia region, which includes Europe and Asia, is the world island due to its central location and strategic importance. The world island is important because it controls the main trade routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa; it provides security, because it controls the main access points to Europe, Asia, and Africa; and it is a region considered a center of political power and influence, with implications for global stability. These are the traits that make us realize the importance of the world island. According to Mackinder, whoever controls the world island will easily control the world. If we consider the current situation from a security perspective, we can see the conflicts taking place in Eastern Europe for dominance and control of that region, similar to what happens with the United States of America. Whoever controls North America is more likely to control the world, given that North America has access to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which offers them economic, political, and military advantages. The economic advantages are evident firstly in international trade, as access to both oceans allows North America to have privileged access to international trade, facilitating the import and export of goods. Regarding trade routes, the region is a good trading hub, as it connects Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Economic diversification: access to both oceans allows North America to diversify its economy, taking advantage of opportunities in different markets and sectors. Secondly, we have political advantages, which are triggered by: global influence. North America, due to its geographic position, has significant influence in global politics, being able to exert pressure and influence decisions in different regions of the world; National security: Access to both oceans provides a strategic advantage in terms of national security, allowing the region to have a significant military and naval presence in different parts of the world. Third, we have military advantages, which are felt through power projection, because North America can project its military power in different regions of the world thanks to its access to both oceans. Control of sea lanes: The region can control important sea lanes, ensuring the safety of its own vessels and influencing international trade. These advantages enjoyed by Eastern Europe and North America are underpinned by the idea of maritime power.This is seen as the ability of a country or organization to exert control and influence over the oceans and sea lanes. This can be achieved by combining the following factors: Navy, port infrastructure, merchant fleet, and technology to achieve control and dominance over exercises taking place at sea. Maritime power is important for international trade, national security, and power projection, through the various types of maritime power that exist: offensive seapower, defensive seapower, and maritime power projection. Hence, we can identify some of the reasons for conflicts in some regions of the planet.

2025/12/3