Top 10 Most Strategically Located Countries
Some countries hit the geographic jackpot. They're the places that everyone seems to want a piece of, not because of touristy beaches or Instagrammable skylines, but because of where they sit on the map. Oceans on one side, mountains on the other, trade routes snaking through the middle. Location like that can turn a country into a pivot point for commerce, conflict, or diplomacy.Naval chokepoints. Border buffer zones. Crossroads of continents. These spots hold the kind of leverage that makes generals circle them on maps and CEOs build billion-dollar pipelines through them. And let's not forget the countries that control narrow sea passages or have easy access to multiple regions. Those are the VIPs of global strategy, the kind that major powers keep on speed dial.
The U.S. has the largest contiguous region of arable land in the world, overlaid by a large network of waterways, flanked by two mountain chains, and bordered by two oceans. Major population centers on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts give it economic and strategic flexibility in response to global trends and events. The distance between the Americas and Eurasia-Africa provides strategic isolation from other major powers. With no regional competitor, the U.S. has dominant influence in the Americas and has, paradoxically, significant global reach despite the distances involved. This also allows the U.S. to shield itself from many negative consequences of global events, choosing how and when to engage with most of the world.
Most trade routes in Eurasia have to go through Turkey. Istanbul, the most strategic city in the world, controls important land and sea trade routes. It is situated at the gateway to the Black Sea and also controls trade routes coming from either Europe or Asia.
Turkey is essentially in the middle of the old world. It is close to everywhere, controls the only passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and has land in both Europe and Asia. The list goes on and on.
Turkey connects Europe and Asia and controls the very important Bosphorus Strait. The geographic center of land mass on Earth is located in Turkey, which is also very close to Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel.
Located in the middle of many high mountains, Switzerland is undesirable to attack.
Located in the middle of Europe's highest mountains, Switzerland is undesirable to attack.
The port of Chabahar is one of the most important ports in the world. Located on the Makran coast of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, next to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, it is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean. Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc., it has been termed the "Golden Gate" to these landlocked countries.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. Around 20% of the world's oil passes through the strait.
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One of the greatest contributors to the world economy and expertise, along with China. Historically powerful.
Located at an important juncture of the Indian Ocean.
Due to its geo-strategic location and being the only Muslim country with nuclear capability, Pakistan is closely watched by all major powers (China, America, Russia) and its adversaries (India, Israel). Looking at Pakistan's history, it can be argued that Pakistan is unbeatable in wartime situations. Pakistan fought four major wars with India and engaged in indirect conflicts with Israel and Russia. Although we lost the 1971 war against India, we won the rest. Pakistan has also supported Palestine, Syria, and Afghanistan against Israel and Russia.
Pakistan is located in a geo-strategic position between Central Asia, South Asia, and West Asia (Middle East) on the historic Silk Road that connected Asia and Europe. To the north is China, and to the south is the Arabian Sea and the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. To the west are Iran and Afghanistan, and to the east is India, with a population of over 1 billion people. Many landlocked Central Asian countries depend on Pakistan for trade, and through CPEC, China has reduced its shipping trade distance by thousands of miles.
To travel into Africa, you should go through Egypt.
Located at the juncture of Africa and Asia.
Somalia is located at the mouth of the Red Sea, where a large volume of the world's trade passes. It also has Cape Guardafui, where the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean meet, making it an ideal location for trade hubs and transport ports.
A very unique location to coordinate both aerial and sea operations.
Somalia controls the entrance to the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean.
Historically, Cyprus was captured multiple times mainly because of its strategic location. Surrounded by the Middle East and Greece, it makes sense why it had many conquerors.
Located at the focal point of the Middle East, the Balkans, and northern Africa.
A country located between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Naval power equals power. The location of the Philippines is a fortress in itself, and it can potentially dominate the entire Pacific. Blocking trade in almost half of the world could cause a worldwide economic crisis. This is why the Philippines is the greatest threat to China if controlled by the U.S., and conversely, it would be a threat to the U.S. if China were to take over. The position of the Philippines is the perfect place to form a powerful fortress, guarding the largest ocean in the world - the Pacific.
Covers much of the northern hemisphere.
Located on an important trading route in East Asia and the South China Sea.
Some of the best farming land and natural resources in all of Asia.
Italy controls access to the eastern Mediterranean from the western Mediterranean.
Holds key strategic positions all over the world.
Located at an important juncture of the Atlantic, Brazil shares a border with nearly all the countries in South America.
Spain holds the ability to restrict any state limited to the Mediterranean from accessing the Atlantic and anywhere else in the world. The importance of the Strait of Gibraltar has been severely underestimated because of the width of the strait (about 7-9 miles).
Spain has an important location in the Mediterranean.
Spain controls access to the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Afghanistan is the heart of Asia, connecting Central Asian countries through its borders. It is located to the north and west of Pakistan, south of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and east of Iran and Turkmenistan. It also has a border with China at its northeast point.
Afghanistan is more politically and commercially strategic than Pakistan and some other countries listed above. Historically, Afghanistan was known as the Square of Transit.
To travel to Antarctica, you could stop by Australia.
A huge percentage of the world's resources and vital to GPS.