European Security in the Wider Black Sea Area

摘要

At the beginning the third millennium, the world balance of power changed. The events of 9/11 necessitated a reorientation of U.S. foreign policy and a new approach to the wider Black Sea security environment. After a decade of decline due to its energy policies, the Russian Federation has recovered and is trying to regain its position as the World's second greatest power. To accomplish this goal, communist Russia uses dirty politics, blackmail, and sabotage to frighten its neighbors; these tactics are jeopardizing the international security environment. This project examines geopolitical, geo- economical, and geostrategic tendencies, vulnerabilities, risks, and threats in the wider Black Sea area. The research reveals the existence of a 'Soft War' that has set the United States and the European Union on one side against the Russian Federation and its allies in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the other. This Soft War could easily become the Second Cold War. This war involves access to energy resources and distribution; Russian efforts to maintain and extend its hegemony using regional instability, secessionist enclaves, sabotage, paramilitary violence, terrorism, and heavy criminality. The project also examines Western interests in the area and U.S. and European Union recommendations meant to improve regional security and to counteract Russian offensive actions.