Strategic Interests Research Articles

Internationalising Spanish Firms to the East: Business Strategies of the National Institute of Industry towards the Soviet Union (late 1950s to 1991)

This article examines the internationalisation of Spanish firms, promoted by the National Institute of Industry (Instituto Nacional de Industria, INI), to the Soviet Union market within the context of the Cold War and East-West economic collaboration. Backed by the Business History methodology and the primary sources of the National Institute of Industry, this paper argues the following. First, the National Institute of Industry’s approach to the Soviet Union was dictated by national strategic interests, such as industrial policy goals, resource-seeking, technology-seeking investment, or profit-seeking attitudes. Second, the INI’s approach to the Soviet Union was dictated by political purposes such as establishing or maintaining relations with Spain and the Soviet Union. Third, before the restoration of diplomatic ties in 1977, the ‘stateness’ of INI was considered a disadvantage. Finally, after restoring diplomatic relations, the ‘stateness’ of INI was deemed an advantage.

The Geopolitics in the Global Compacts: Sovereignty, Emerging Norms, and Hypocrisy in Global Migration Governance

ABSTRACT The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCM) were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018. After nearly five years, it is time for a critical reflection on the geopolitical interests that motivated the negotiations, agreements, and implementation. The purpose of this special issue was to critically examine how states used the Global Compacts to achieve their strategic interests using migration diplomacy. Each article attempts to question and problematise the assumptions, logics, and rhetoric put forward in the Global Compacts and resulting implementation by states and international organisations. The special issue also highlights the emerging norm of state responsibility for well-managed migration within the Global Compacts, and the notable silences around non-refoulement, internal displacement, and climate migration. The authors in this special issue worked to understand the gaps, hypocrisy, and contradictions in the implementation, now five years after the adoption of the Global Compacts. This introduction article lays out the driving questions for the special issue, along with our main themes, concepts, and contributions.

Regulatory and legal bases for the establishment and functioning of seafarers' health protection centers in the Russian Federation

Introduction. Ensuring the national interests of the Russian Federation in the World Ocean presupposes the development of medical and sanitary support for maritime activities, which currently requires integrated approaches in implementing the requirements for the preservation of the health of employees of the Russian fleet established by international legal acts on health and medical care in maritime navigation, of which the Russian Federation is a participant. In this regard, harmonization of legislation and improvement of measures related to the organization and functioning of seafarers' health protection centers are of particular importance.
 The study aims to conduct comprehensive legal monitoring of national regulatory and methodological documents regulating the activities of seafarers' health protection centers in comparison with international standards.
 Materials and methods. The authors have studied and analyzed scientific publications for the period from 1980 to 2023 defining the problems of medical and sanitary provision of water transport workers, methodological approaches of the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the International Maritime Organization in this area, as well as current international and Russian regulatory legal acts, information from official websites of executive authorities and organizations.
 Results. The study found that today the system of seafarers' health protection, which previously existed in our country, has suffered significantly, and its restoration requires an integrated approach and centralization of medical support for maritime activities in accordance with the Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation and the Concept of Development of the Russian Federation Marine medicine. To this end, in the structure of organizations subordinate to the FMBA of Russia, in large port cities, head and regional centers for the protection of seafarers' health were established, carrying out accounting and analytical, organizational and methodological, regulatory, therapeutic and preventive, expert, scientific and educational activities. An important direction in the work of these centers is the implementation of preventive measures and the identification of occupational and work-related diseases. For the successful development of a unified system of medical and sanitary support for employees of the marine and river fleet, it is advisable to assign the functions of regulatory regulation in this area to the FMBA of Russia.
 Conclusion. The restoration of a full-fledged domestic system of providing medical care to water transport workers is possible through the creation and regulatory consolidation of the activities of seafarers' health protection centers in the structure of the FMBA organizations of Russia, which is an essential condition for achieving compliance of the national maritime policy with international requirements in the field of health and safety of navigation while maintaining its strategic goals and interests in the field of maritime and river navigation.
 Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with Ethical standards. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics committee.

Securing Interests or Undermining Sovereignty? The Political Implications of Foreign Military Basing in Africa

ABSTRACT For decades, foreign military bases have been an integral part of international politics. The presence of foreign military forces in host nations can serve strategic and economic interests, but it can also raise legal, ethical, and political difficulties, especially with regard to sovereignty. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology this article investigates the political consequences of foreign military bases in Africa, concentrating on the conflict between protecting interests and eroding sovereignty. The findings emphasizes the significance for careful assessment of the political ramifications of foreign military bases in Africa as well as the benefits such facilities can offer to host nations.

Turkish-Israeli Relations between 2002 and 2020: The Impact of Nonstate Actors on the Bilateral Ties

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the gradual decline in Turkish-Israeli relations between 2002 and 2020 by focusing on both states’ use of nonstate actors as proxies in pursuit of their competing strategic interests in the Middle East region. The article argues that the Islamization of Turkish foreign policy under the rule of the Justice and Development Party, as well as Turkey’s use of various Sunni Islamist nonstate actors in contradistinction to Israel and in the post-2003 Iraqi war period, coupled with Israel’s reliance on various Kurdish nonstate actors as proxies in tandem with its longstanding periphery doctrine, resulted in a decline in the bilateral relations.

Women and Their Interests in Rural India

There is a substantial and growing recognition of the hazards of treating the interests of women as being homogenous. A variety of sources focus on diversity in the interests of a woman, ranging from bargaining with patriarchy where she is forced to carry out diverse tasks within the household, to the extension of these negotiations elsewhere in her socio-economic reality. These challenges are accentuated at times of wider social transformation. Responses of women to these challenges are also influenced by their position within the household. This article seeks to gain insights into the complex negotiations between women, households and society in times of socio-economic transformation by exploring the relationship between women’s interests, strategic gender interests and practical gender interests within households that are headed by women. It does so through an empirical examination of the linkages between these interests of women across four different patterns of transformation in 21st-century rural India.

US “Outposts” in Latin America: Military-Technical Cooperation, Military Bases and Joint Exercises

The authors analyze the forms of interaction between the United States and Latin America in the military sphere. The relevance of studying this issue is due to the aggravation of relations between the collective West and Russia, as well as between the United States and China, within the framework of which Latin America acts as a zone of competition between the world powers. In this regard, the analysis of Latin American vector of US policy in the military aspect from the point of view of Russia’s strategic interests is particularly important. The lack of domestic scientific research on this problem greatly adds to its relevance. As for the novelty, based on the review of the world market of arms and military equipment (AME), this article determines the dynamics and the share of the American producer in the total volume of arms trade. In the context of military-technical cooperation (MTC), the authors also consider the peculiarities of the American military power projection on Latin America, which is a zone of exclusive interests of the United States. Among the key formats of interaction and projection of influence, the authors include the following: arms and military-technical supplies to the armies and security services of the states of the region; training of military personnel in Latin American countries; financing of armies and military units; cooperation programs to optimize the managerial and organizational functions of the Latin American armed forces, establishment and maintenance of various types of military bases, conducting joint military exercises. Using new factual material, we examine each of the listed forms and show the systematic and geostrategic nature of the US influence on the Latin American region in the military aspect. As for military trade, the authors identify the main partners of the United States in South America.

China's Role in the Indo-US Strategic Interest in the Indian Ocean Region

The strategic position and economic resources of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) make it a point of contention for both big and regional governments. The United States and India maintain friendly diplomatic and security ties and are regarded as trustworthy strategic partners. Both countries maintained diplomatic ties throughout the Cold War, although India was the USSR's reliable strategic ally at the time. India changed its course and started bolstering its bilateral relations with the US after the Cold War ended. Both states participate in several economic and geopolitical accords. Although the United States and India both have interests in the Indian Ocean area, their interests coincide to counteract China's rise to prominence as an economic force in this region.

Using Process Tracing to Investigate Elite Experience Accrual: Explaining Margaret Thatcher’s Support for US Air Strikes Against Libya

The United States’ invasion of Grenada in 1983 represented the lowest point in Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan’s relationship, with Thatcher incensed at what she perceived to be her ally’s misuse of military force. However, in April 1986, Thatcher gave permission for the United States to use British-based aircraft for air strikes against the Gaddafi regime in Libya, a mission as tenuously grounded in international law as Grenada. How do we explain Thatcher’s apparent change in approach to foreign policy, now placing strategic interests above her previous deference to international law, and what does this tell us about the role experience plays in a leader’s foreign policy decisions? Drawing on insights from the ongoing behavioural revolution in International Relations, this paper argues that the experience Thatcher gained during the Grenada episode led to her support for US strikes against Libya. A process tracing approach using documents from the UK National Archives, as well as biographies and memoirs, tests this individual-level hypothesis against a rival structuralist explanation. This research shows how experience gained in office can influence a leader’s future foreign policy decision-making and demonstrates the utility of process tracing methods for investigations into the role of experience in international politics.

Evolution of United States’ space policy: An approach of proactive engagement

United States space policy has largely reflected the outlook of a major power. The key distinguishing feature of such a state is their willingness to proactively reshape and engage with international regimes and organizations. They do this to protect their strategic goals and national interest. US space policy has historically been shaped by geopolitical tensions and rivalries. Its space policy is an extension of the military doctrines and strategies that it subsequently developed. The article examines different periods since the start of the space race. These periods reflect how US space policy has adapted to meet new challenges.

US Deterrence against Russia and China (based on strategic documents of J. Biden administration)

The contemporary world order is rapidly changing, which is manifested, inter alia, in the growing erosion of the US global military superiority. This trend is acknowledged in the US military-strategic and policy planning documents. In this context the strengthening of the military potential of both the Russian Federation and the PRC, coupled by the expansion of political and economic cooperation between them, is a matter of particular concern for the US ruling elites. At the same time, recognizing a problem does not mean assessing it correctly. A closer examination of key strategic documents published in recent years shows that if from a political and military point of view, the US strategists come up with a generally rational list of measures aimed at countering the challenge, posed by Russia and China, from an ideological point of view they doggedly follow liberal-hegemonic premises that are increasingly inconsistent with current international political realities. The author notes that the policy of D. Trump and J. Biden administrations towards China is characterized by a high degree of continuity. The main role in containing the PRC should be played by a system of military-political alliances with the countries of Southeast and South Asia located along the perimeter of its borders. In addition to the alliances inherited from the Cold War, the Biden administration is seeking to develop new ‘bloc structures’ in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). However, not all countries in the region, in particular India, support the anti-Chinese orientation of the US initiatives. Washington’s relations with Moscow deteriorated sharply after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, but even before that, the United States faced serious challenges in maintaining strategic parity with the Russian Federation. This primarily concerns the quantitative, rather than qualitative side of the equation: according to the US military strategists, Russia has made significant progress in modernizing its strategic nuclear forces and developing fundamentally new types of nuclear delivery vehicles. At the same time, the Biden administration’s approaches to building relations with Moscow are no less ideological than in the case of the PRC, which makes the prospects for resuming Russian-American (and ideally trilateral Russian-American-Chinese) negotiations on strategic arms control extremely vague. The question arises to what extent this ideologized foreign policy of the Biden administration meets the new international realities and the strategic interests of the United States itself.

NAVIGATING SINO-INDIA RELATIONS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN

Sino-India relations in the Indian Ocean have emerged as a critical aspect of geopolitical dynamics in the region. This abstract explores the prospects and challenges for Pakistan arising from this evolving relationship. With China's increasing naval presence and economic interests in the Indian Ocean, and India's own ambitions to safeguard its strategic interests, the region has witnessed a power struggle between the two Asian giants. The prospects for Pakistan lie in the potential for economic cooperation and infrastructural development through China's Belt and Road Initiative, which could enhance connectivity and trade opportunities. However, challenges arise for Pakistan as it navigates its delicate balance between China and India. These challenges include concerns over the deepening strategic and military ties between China and India, potential encirclement, and the impact on Pakistan's strategic autonomy. It is crucial for Pakistan to carefully manage these challenges while leveraging the opportunities to ensure its own security, economic growth, and regional stability.

FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI DASAR PERTAHANAN MALAYSIA ERA TUN MAHATHIR MOHAMAD 1981-2003

Since 1957, Malaysia has developed a National Defense Policy (NDP) to ensure national security and sovereignty. The DPN reflects Malaysia's desire to be able to defend its strategic interests and maintain national security. During Mahathir's era, the defense policy was inclined towards self-reliance and changed its pattern i.e. upward, where before his administration it was in the form of dependency and neutrality and had a horizontal pattern. In the international arena, Tun's voice resonated to voice the aspirations of Third World countries and the commitment shown above other leaders. Self-reliance under Tun Mahathir's administration made aspects of Malaysia's defense policy more modern so that Tun Mahathir became a reference and attention throughout the world, especially Third World Countries. The three main factors that influenced Malaysia's defense policy during the era of Tun Mahathir Mohamad 1981-2003 that will be discussed, namely internal factors (internal factors), external factors (external factors) and Tun Mahathir Mohamad's idiosyncratic factors which made the aspects of Malaysia's security and defense policy more modern and 'gah' on the international stage.

War in Ukraine and Russian Goals in the Western Balkans

Russia has always had a keen interest in the Western Balkans. It was historically realised in the context of geopolitical continuities of the expansion of its territory and influence. Russia has tried to gain influence in this region for political, economic, identity and strategic reasons. However, after the start of military aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Russia opted for a confrontation in the Western Balkans where it opposes the EU and NATO expansion policies and influence of the West in this region. Key Russian leverage for spreading its influence in the region is the Serbian geopolitical design of military neutrality and the convergence of strategic interests of the two countries. Russia wants to exert a strong influence on the Western Balkans, and thus on the security of the EU. On the other hand, Serbia wants to position itself as the main actor of power in the region with simultaneous support from both Russia and the West.

Military Medicine and Medical Research as a Source of Inspiration and Innovation to Solve National Security and Health Challenges in the 21st Century.

The history of military medicine and research is rife with examples of novel treatments and new approaches to heal and cure soldiers and others impacted by war's devastation. In the 21st century, new threats, like climate change, are combined with traditional threats, like geopolitical conflict, to create novel challenges for our strategic interests. Extreme and inaccessible environments provide heightened risks for warfighter exposure to dangerous bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as exposure to toxic substances and extremes of temperature, pressure, or both providing threats to performance and eroding resilience. Back home, caring for our veterans is also a health-care priority, and the diseases of veterans increasingly overlap with the health needs of an aging society. These trends of climate change, politics, and demographics suggest performance evaluation and resilience planning and response are critical to assuring both warfighter performance and societal health. The Cleveland ecosystem, comprising several hospitals, a leading University, and one of the nation's larger Veteran's Health Administration systems, is ideal for incubating and understanding the response to these challenges. In this review, we explore the interconnections of collaborations between Defense agencies, particularly Air Force and Army and academic medical center-based investigators to drive responses to the national health security challenges facing the United States and the world.

MAPPING INDIA-NIGERIA RELATIONS: BRINGING ENERGY SECTOR INTO FOCUS

India and Nigeria, two populous nations with rapidly growing economies, have cultivated a multifaceted relationship that extends beyond diplomatic ties. This paper delves into the intricate web of India-Nigeria relations, with a specific emphasis on the pivotal role of the energy sector. The energy sector has emerged as a linchpin in this bilateral relationship, showcasing the dynamics of energy diplomacy between the two nations. Nigeria, an African energy giant, holds abundant reserves of oil and gas, while India, one of the world’s fastestgrowing energy consumers, presents a compelling market for Nigerian energy resources. This paper scrutinises the evolution of this partnership, tracing its historical roots to the present day. Furthermore, it explores the geopolitical dimensions that shape energy cooperation, including Nigeria’s position as a vital oil supplier to India, and the diplomatic efforts taken to ensure a stable energy supply. The study also addresses the challenges and opportunities inherent in this energy-centric partnership, from market access issues to the potential for technology and knowledge transfer. By shedding light on the nuances of India-Nigeria relations within the energy sector, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the global energy landscape and the strategic interests that underpin the ties between emerging economies.

The Coloniser Colonised: Legacies of Britain’s Informal Empire in Spain

ABSTRACT For over a century from the 1830s to the 1940s, Spain was subjected to British diplomatic and economic power, designed to ensure the country complied with the British Empire’s strategic and commercial interests. Supported by Britain’s use of military force at key moments of crisis, this amounted to ‘informal imperialism’, as described by Gallagher and Robinson in their famous 1953 article, which suggested free trade imperialism drove the expansion of the British Empire in the nineteenth century. The experience left Spain with a number of economic and political legacies that undermined its capacity to develop a modernised economy. This article explores three of the most important effects: an unbalanced economy, deepened political divisions, and increasingly autarkic political and economic policies. It concludes that the Spanish experience was a harbinger of a more general process of imperial economic colonisation by the new commercial powers that emerged from the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century, led by Britain. It suggests these legacies were also evident in the newly independent post-Second World War colonies as they freed themselves from the grip of the European empires.

Economic perspective of establishing strategic partnership between China and Georgia

The field of interest of this article is the detection and definition of modern challenges and perspectives of protection of strategic national interests. Interest in the topic is due to the fact that no country can deal with the most pressing problems of our time in isolation from other countries. They can be overcome only within the framework of close international cooperation. Georgia's progress depends to a significant extent on the establishment of strategic partnerships with other countries, the purpose of which is to promote joint development. The purpose of the research carried out within the article is to reveal and define the main aspects of the economic prospects of establishing a strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and Georgia. The subject of the research is the analysis of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Georgia, the evaluation and systematization of its modern manifestations. It has been revealed what results the connections between the countries have brought, what challenges and opportunities are emerging in the future. The object of the research is the state of economic cooperation established between China and Georgia at the present stage and the creation of favorable conditions for their stable long-term development. Among the main research methods used, the general scientific methods of induction and deduction, the method of theoretical systematic analysis and the monographic (descriptive) method should be noted. The research is of practical importance in terms of creating favorable conditions for the long-term development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation between China and Georgia. Key words: China, Georgia, strategic national interests, strategic partnership, economic dimension.

The Economic Dimension in Turkish-Pakistani Relations 2002-2022

The idea of the research is focused on the study of Turkish-Pakistani relations 2002-2020 in the economic field and aims to clarify the level of development of these relations in this field under the AKP government. The importance of the research lies in shedding light on the details of economic relations between the two countries, particularly in areas such as trade, mutual investment, and industrial cooperation. The research consists of a preface addressing the roots of economic and trade relations between Turkey and Pakistan until 2002, as well as two main axes: the first deals with trade relations while the second includes economic cooperation and investment. In addition, the research is concluded with stating the key findings of the study. One of the most important results of the research is that, despite all the circumstances and challenges faced by the two countries during the aforementioned period, they were able to significantly develop mutual trade and economic relations and foster bilateral cooperation to serve common strategic interests.

Russian strategic directions in the Middle East goals- determinants- future dimension))

According to the contemporary Russian strategic approach, the Middle East region witnessed a gradual return to the influential role of this country, as Russia achieved great rapprochement with the region and was able to restore its relations with some of its countries. It also tended to play political and military roles in pivotal issues. This return was accompanied by an increasing desire to penetrate several regions’ countries. Such a penetration would help Russia in ensuring a better position in international interactions and open a new vital field to maximize its strategic interests.