It is through the sea that one should begin all geography, » wrote Michelet. The sea has fascinated humans who have sought to control it, as it has been a power asset for millennia. However, it is also the stage for the wars of the 21st century: from the Black Sea, one of the fronts of the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine, to the Red Sea, where the Houthis from Yemen disrupt international trade amidst the Hamas-Israel war. We must also dive 20,000 leagues under the sea: here takes place the invisible war of information, as 98% of our digital exchanges pass through underwater cables, with the obvious strategic interest that comes with controlling these connections.
Finally, the world’s oceans, through which 90% of global trade transits, have become the preferred setting for the Sino-American duel. By colonizing islands in the Pacific, China is rewriting international law to its advantage, positioning itself as the new empress of the seas. This geopolitical cruise makes 21 stops to set sail and view the major issues of the 21st century in a different light.
