Venezuela, Greenland, and now Iran. Add threats towards Colombia and renewed talk of controlling the Panama Canal. All of this is on the table, and Europe seems unable to respond in any meaningful way.
At the core lies an old idea: control of hemispheres and the desire to be the big boss. Power politics are back, openly; geography matters again.
The Arctic is a clear example. Greenland plays a central role. As ice retreats, shipping routes shorten and the Arctic becomes an arena of great power politics.
It shares another crucial feature with Venezuela and Iran: they are energy rich. Oil and gas still sit at the heart of global power. But resources alone are not enough. You also need control over waterways, because most extraction and trade still move by sea. Geography, resources, and transport align.
This is where the Panama Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Suez Canal come in. These chokepoints reduce transport times, cut costs, and offer leverage. Control over them is not symbolic; it directly affects energy flows and profits.
Iran illustrates this clearly. It is gas rich and sits next to key US allies, but more importantly, it borders the Strait of Hormuz. A favourable government would make exports easier and more predictable, while limiting the ability to disrupt global supply.
This is also where Israel enters the picture. Offshore gas fields such as Leviathan stretch along the Eastern Mediterranean coast, from Sinai to Lebanon. These fields are part of a wider energy strategy and help explain the intense focus on maritime control in the region.
Gaza fits into this picture as well. Beyond the humanitarian catastrophe, Gaza lies within a broader maritime and energy context. Offshore gas reserves lie close to its coastline. Control over this coastal space is not only military or political, but also economic. Securing offshore infrastructure, sea access, and export routes reinforces regional dominance.
Further south, the Red Sea becomes relevant. Somaliland has gained strategic importance, as recognition would help secure influence over another vital shipping route. Together, the Arctic, the Eastern Mediterranean, and key waterways form a connected system.
Removing the current Iranian government would likely destabilise the Houthis and weaken Hamas. These links are not accidental; they are part of a broader structure connecting energy, transport routes, and political alliances.
It is easy to argue that many of these outcomes would be positive. Maduro, the Iranian leadership, Hamas, and the Houthis are brutal actors who cause immense suffering. Removing them may seem desirable.
Maybe. But the motivation behind these moves is rarely about the people who suffer. It is about resources, routes, and speed. We should always keep that in mind. We also do not know what comes next. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
This is a lot to take in. I cannot unpack every point here. In follow-up posts, I will look more closely at waterways, Arctic control, oil and gas, and critical minerals.
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