Werner Fasslabend
Geopolitical Shifts in the 21st Century
AIES Comment 2025/3
01.04.2025 / Europäische Sicherheit und Verteidigung / Indo-Pazifik / Globale Dynamiken
The 21st century has witnessed a significant epochal shift in the geopolitical and economic prominence of global regions. Historically, during ancient and medieval times, the Mediterranean Sea served as the maritime epicenter of the world. Its waters were contested and shaped by influential civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Venetians, Genoese, and Ottomans. However, following the European discovery of the Americas in 1492, maritime dominance progressively transitioned to the Atlantic Ocean, a process which continued until the close of the 20th century. During this period, the Atlantic sphere was predominantly influenced by European naval powers, and notably, from World War I onward, under the strategic leadership of the United States.
