Welcome to Cold War II

Ten years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, a new geopolitical power block has emerged. On June 14 2001, under the leadership of Russia and China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was formed. Ever since its creation this military and economic intergovernmental organisation has been steadily working to counterbalance the influence of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Eurasia and beyond..

Welcome to Cold War II -- World Geopolitical Analysis.

This page was created for the purpose of graphically illustrating the geopolitical struggle that is currently occuring in our world. For simplicity, only five colours have been used to signify a country's geopolitical stance. NATO member countries and their close allies are shown as dark blue. Countries where NATO members have relatively significant political, military and/or economic influence are shown as blue. Countries which are neutral or where neither NATO nor SCO members have relatively significant influence are shown as purple. Countries where SCO member countries have relatively significant political, military and/or economic influence are shown as dark red. SCO member countries and their close allies are shown as red.

The following factors are being used in this analysis:

• Military, political and economic organisations ie. SCO (wiki); CSTO (wiki); EurAsEC (wiki); CIS (wiki); CES (link); ALBA (wiki); NATO (wiki); GUAM (wiki); CDC (wiki); ANZUS (wiki); EU (wiki); EEA (wiki); NAFTA (wiki); CAFTA (wiki)
• Other diplomatic relations ie. MNNA designations (wiki)
• Recognition of Israel (link); Recognition of Taiwan (link); Recognition of Kosovo (link)
• Wars and international disputes
• Rhetoric of politicians ie. “Axis of evil” (wiki); "Outposts of Tyranny" (wiki); "State Sponsors of Terror" (link)
• Presence of foreign troops and military bases ie. US Department of Defense Base Structure Report, Fiscal Year 2007 (link); US Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country June 30 2007 (link)
• Geostrategic location
• Energy politics and security
• Recipients of military aid ie. US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) (link)
• Targets of sanctions, arms embargoes ie. US Treasury Sanctions Programs (link), US Arms Embargoes (link); EU sanctions and arms embargoes (link)
• Purchasers of weapons ie. US weapons exports (link); Russian weapons exports (link)
• Degree of support for the US occupation of Iraq (wiki)
• Degree of support for the US occupation of Haiti (link)
• Degree of support for the US occupation of Afghanistan (wiki)
• Historical position ie. during the Cold War

The highlighting of the text using the abovementioned colours is meant to suggest which faction's geopolitical interests are being represented/served. The factors are evaluated and weighted to arrive at the geopolitical stance of the country. Countries with insignificant territory and/or military budget are excluded from this analysis.


Country (military expenditure in $ millions as per CIA World Factbook): Factors.

Afghanistan (123): Does not recognise Israel (link); Under US and NATO occupation since 2001 (wiki); US FMF recipient ($396,800,000 in 2005) (link); surrounded by SCO and SCO observer states (wiki); active partisan resistance (link); purchaser of US weapons (2005); in 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Albania (57): Acceding to NATO (link); potential EU candidate (link); US FMF recipient ($2,976,000 in 2005, $3,465,000 in 2006) (link); 70 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki)
Algeria (3,000): Does not recognise Israel (link); Major purchaser of Russian weapons (rian.ru,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006)
Angola (2,000): Purchaser of Russian weapons (2000,2001,2002); US and China are the major oil purchasers and export partners (link); in 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Argentina (4,300): Designated as Major non-NATO US ally (wiki); purchaser of US weapons (SIPRI,2000)
Armenia (135): CSTO (wiki); CIS (wiki); EurAsEC observer (wiki); Russian military presence (wiki); purchaser of Russian weapons (2004); military tensions with Azerbaijan (link 1,link 2); closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan (link); US FMF recipient ($7,936,000 in 2005, $3,960,000 in 2006) (link); 46 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki)
Australia (17,840): Designated as Major non-NATO US ally (wiki); 711 US military personnel stationed (link); ANZUS (wiki); free trade agreement with US (link); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006); 1000 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 870 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Austria (1,497): Surrounded by NATO (wiki); EU (wiki); NATO countries are the main arms suppliers (SIPRI); purchaser of US weapons (2002); 4 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Azerbaijan (121): GUAM (wiki); CIS (wiki); military tensions with Armenia (link 1,link 2); hosts Russian early-warning radar at Gabala (link); Georgia/Turkey oil pipeline cooperation (link); US FMF recipient ($7,936,000 in 2005, $3,960,000 in 2006) (link); 3 of initial 136 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 20 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Bahrain (628): Designated as Major non-NATO US ally (wiki); Does not recognise Israel (link); 1,389 US military personnel stationed (link); US FMF recipient ($18,847,000 in 2005, $15,593,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2001,2002,2003,2005)
Bangladesh (1,010): Does not recognise Israel (link); US FMF recipient ($248,000 in 2005, $990,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (2000,2002,2006)
Belarus (421): 'Union of Russia and Belarus' signatory (wiki); CSTO (wiki); EurAsEC (wiki); SCO observer applicant (wiki); CIS (wiki); CES (link); hosts Russian early-warning radar at Baranovichi (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (SIPRI,2000); “The Last Dictatorship in Europe” (link); "Outpost of Tyranny" (wiki); target of US sanctions (link); US arms embargo (link); leadership is under EU restrictions on admission and financial sanctions (link)
Belgium (3,999): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); 1,367 US military personnel stationed (link); purchaser of US weapons (2005,2006); 381 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Belize (18): US FMF recipient ($698,000 in 2005, $198,000 in 2006) (link)
Benin (101): ACOTA participant (link)
Bhutan (8): No diplomatic relations with Israel (link); Surrounded by SCO and SCO observer states (link)
Bolivia (130): ALBA (wiki)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (234): Surrounded by NATO (wiki); potential EU candidate (link); US FMF recipient ($8,480,000 in 2005, $8,910,000 in 2006) (link); 207 US military personnel stationed (link); 37 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki)
Botswana (326): ACOTA participant (link); US FMF recipient ($496,000 in 2005) (link)
Brazil (9,940): NATO countries are the main arms suppliers (SIPRI); purchaser of US weapons (2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006); purchaser of Russian weapons (2005)
Brunei (291): Does not recognise Israel (link); For the years 1888-1984 was a British protectorate
Bulgaria (356): NATO (wiki); EU (wiki); US military presence (link); $15 billion gas pipeline project with Russia (link); US FMF recipient ($6,944,000 in 2005, $9,900,000 in 2006) (link); 155 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 100 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Burkina Faso (75): ACOTA participant (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (2005)
Burma (Myanmar) (39): Ally of China and major purchaser of Chinese weapons (link); "Outpost of Tyranny" (wiki); purchaser of Russian weapons (2001,2002,2006); target of US sanctions (link); US arms embargo (link); EU sanctions and arms embargo (link)
Burundi (44):
Cambodia (112): US FMF recipient ($992,000 in 2005, and $990,000 in 2006) (link)
Cameroon (230): Cooperating with US in oil pipeline from Chad (link)
Canada (9,802): NATO (wiki); 143 US military personnel stationed (link); NAFTA (wiki); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006); 127 troops stationed in Haiti (link); 2,500 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Central African Republic (16): French military presence (link); historically a French colony prior to 1960
Chad (69): Participant of the US Pan Sahel Initiative (link); Does not recognise Israel (link); cooperating with US in oil pipeline to Cameroon (link); French military presence (link)
Chile (3,910): Free trade with US (link); US FMF recipient ($495,000 in 2005, $592,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2003,2005,2006); 327 troops stationed in Haiti (link)
China (81,480): SCO (wiki); claims Taiwan as its "inalienable part" (wiki); major purchaser of Russian weapons (mosnews,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006); US arms embargo (link); EU arms embargo (link)
Colombia (3,300): 124 US military personnel stationed (link); US FMF recipient ($99,200,000 in 2005, $89,100,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2001,2002,2004,2005); purchaser of Russian weapons (2006); in 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Congo, Republic of the (85): French colony prior to 1960
Congo, Democratic Republic of the (104): French military presence (link); target of US sanctions (link); US arms embargo (link)
Costa Rica (83): CAFTA (wiki); In 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Ivory Coast (180): French military presence (link); ACOTA participant (link); target of US sanctions (link); US arms embargo (link); EU arms embargo (link)
Croatia (620): Acceding to NATO (link); EU candidate (wiki); 180 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Cuba (694): ALBA (wiki); hostile relations with the US (wiki); No diplomatic relations with Israel (link); "Outpost of Tyranny" (wiki); "State Sponsor of Terror" (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (link); Unwelcomed 903 US military personnel stationed in Guantanamo (link); target of US sanctions (link); US arms embargo (link)
Cyprus (384): EU (wiki); Greek, Turkish, UK and UN military presence (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (2001)
Czech Republic (2,170): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); US FMF recipient ($5,952,000 in 2005, $3,957,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2002); purchaser of Russian weapons (2003,2005,2006); 99 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 224 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Denmark (3,272): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); 157 US military personnel stationed (including Greenland) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2001,2003,2004,2006); 55 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 665 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Djibouti (29): Does not recognise Israel (link); French military presence (link); 2,038 US military personnel stationed (link); US FMF recipient ($4,468,000 in 2005, $3,960,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (2002)
Dominican Republic (180): CAFTA (wiki); US FMF recipient ($992,000 in 2005, $941,000 in 2006) (link); 302 troops deployed but withdrawn from Iraq (wiki)
Ecuador (650): Potential ALBA member (link); 41 US military personnel stationed and 1 small airforce facility (link)
Egypt (2,440): Designated as Major non-NATO US ally (wiki); Treaty of Peace with Israel (link); 288 US military personnel stationed (link); US FMF recipient ($1,289,600,000 in 2005, $1,287,000,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006); purchaser of Russian weapons (1999)
El Salvador (162): CAFTA (wiki); US FMF recipient ($1,488,000 in 2005, $9,900,000 in 2006) (link); 280 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki)
Equatorial Guinea (152): Traditionally a Spanish colony
Eritrea (220): Purchaser of Russian weapons (2001,2004); in 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Estonia (155): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); CDC (wiki); US FMF recipient ($4,960,000 in 2005, $4,451,000 in 2006) (link); 35 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki); 130 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Ethiopia (296): ACOTA participant (link); US FMF recipient ($7,050,000 in 2005, $1,980,000 in 2006) (link); purchaser of Russian weapons (2000,2003,2004); in 2003 issued declarations finding that Iraq was a threat (link)
Finland (1,800): EU (wiki); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2002); 100 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
France (45,000): NATO (wiki); EU (wiki); 1,100 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Gabon (254): ACOTA participant (link); French military presence (link)
Georgia (23): US military presence (link); GUAM (wiki); CDC (wiki); CIS assosiate member (wiki); Azerbaijan/Turkey oil pipeline cooperation (link); military tensions with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia territories (link); Georgian Pankisi Gorge is a possible safe haven for Chechen guerillas (link); "Beacon of Liberty" (link); US FMF recipient ($11,904,000 in 2005, $11,880,000 in 2006) (link); 2,000 troops stationed in Iraq (wiki)
Germany (35,063): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); 58,894 US military personnel stationed (link); purchaser of US weapons (2004); 3,600 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Ghana (84): ACOTA participant (link); US FMF recipient ($496,000 in 2005, $495,000 in 2006) (link)
Greece (5,890): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); 354 US military personnel stationed (link); purchaser of US weapons (2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005); purchaser of Russian weapons (2001,2002); 170 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)
Guatemala (170): CAFTA (wiki)
Guinea (120): Does not recognise Israel (link); French colony prior to 1958
Guinea-Bissau (9): Colony of Portugal prior to 1974
Guyana (6): US FMF recipient ($99,000 in 2005, $99,000 in 2006) (link)
Haiti (26): Under US, Canadian and Chilean occupation (link); US FMF recipient ($297,000 in 2005, $988,000 in 2006) (link); active population dissent/rebellion (link)
Honduras (53): CAFTA (wiki); 412 US military personnel stationed (link); US FMF recipient ($1,492,000 in 2005, $891,000 in 2006) (link); 368 troops deployed but withdrawn from Iraq (wiki)
Hungary (1,080): EU (wiki); NATO (wiki); US FMF recipient ($5,951,000 in 2005, $2,474,000 in 2006) (link); 300 troops deployed but withdrawn from Iraq (wiki); 180 troops deployed to Afghanistan (wiki)

[ANALYSIS PART 2, PART 3]