Making Friends
Making Friends
International | Jul 2024
Inferential Focus
Africa, Alliances, Australia, China, Country, Developing countries, Diplomacy, Economy, Emerging Economy, Energy, Europe, European Union, Foreign investment, Geo-economics, Geopolitics, Globalization, IMF, India, Israel, Japan, Middle East, Military, Mining, Natural gas, New New Cold War, New World Order, Oil, Panda Diplomacy, Revised Globalism, Russia, SCO, Security, Trade, US, WTO
Much talk about global politics has been focused on competition between would-be (and real) adversaries. Geopolitics has garnered much attention, especially with wars going on in Europe and the Middle East. Yet often overlooked are geo-economic deals and accords around shared interests, accords that develop friendships and enhance peaceful relationships. These kinds of enhanced relationships take different forms: Organizations to Facilitate Economic Cooperation; Special Trade Accords; Foreign Direct Investments; Education and Training; and Collaborations and Partnerships. One curious addition to these efforts at Making Friends is the recent escalation in spending on military weapons, and deals to secure more weapons among countries worldwide.
Making Friends secures relationships along geo-economic lines, while military spending and security alliances enhance national security. While friendship and war preparation might seem contradictory, they are part of the conditions necessary today for countries to continue to grow.