Geopolitics in North Africa

North Africa is a region with tremendous geostrategic importance. Situated at the nexus of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, the region has drawn the attention of external powers for centuries. North Africa is inextricably tied to Europe through geography and history and has been a theater of proxy conflict – both diplomatic and, at times, violent – from global powers including the Arab Gulf states, Russia, and China. Additionally, the North African states, themselves, are one of the least united regions in the world and have experienced disputes, particularly over Western Sahara. Global and regional powers have, at times, exploited these disagreements to the detriment of North Africa, exacerbating existing fissures and preventing further economic and political integration that is necessary for a more prosperous and stable region.