Will China’s facemask diplomacy pay off?
China has recently engaged itself in Central and Eastern Europe. Its influence in the region may become even stronger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Central and Eastern Europe’s location is strategically very attractive – geopolitically and economically. That is why Washington has often called this region a pivot area, a term popularised by the late Zbigniew Brzeziński. With a large part of the region now part of western integration structures (especially NATO), the Kremlin sees it as a threat to its spheres of influence. Thus, the language of Russian strategists includes phrases such as the “American cordon sanitaire” or (alternatively) the “Western Limitrophe”.
Central and Eastern Europe’s location is strategically very attractive – geopolitically and economically. That is why Washington has often called this region a pivot area, a term popularised by the late Zbigniew Brzeziński. With a large part of the region now part of western integration structures (especially NATO), the Kremlin sees it as a threat to its spheres of influence. Thus, the language of Russian strategists includes phrases such as the “American cordon sanitaire” or (alternatively) the “Western Limitrophe”.
September 7, 2020 -
Jakub Bornio
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Hot TopicsIssue 5 2020Magazine
A ceremonial welcome of protective gear (purchased, not granted) from China was organised at Warsaw airport in April. The arrival of the Ukrainian Antonov An-225 was greeted by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a widely publicised symbolic ceremony. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister of Poland’s Flickr page (CC) https://www.flickr.com/photos/premierrp/
