This is a strange framing of the article and a bit of a sensationalist headline. The video is more like a brief history of the Portuguese Empire and a plan wherein they petition the UN for rights...
This is a strange framing of the article and a bit of a sensationalist headline. The video is more like a brief history of the Portuguese Empire and a plan wherein they petition the UN for rights to declare big parts of the sea around them as Portuguese territory.
It's a weird plan though, because if they generalized this conception of territorial claims It would kick off so much conflict around the world and violate norms around "freedom of the seas." Like all of South East Asia revolves around claims over the trade routes through the region and Chinese expansion there already makes them sweat.
I also don't really understand why geopolitics nerds and nationalists seem to get so wrapped up in gaming weird 'national pride' metrics. Like, who actually cares where you rank on a list of largest countries or how 'strong' your currency exchange rate is? (Another thing nationalists tend to get really worked up about). If it doesn't impact the security or stability of the state or the material condition of its people it seems like a waste of time to worry about it.
This is a strange framing of the article and a bit of a sensationalist headline. The video is more like a brief history of the Portuguese Empire and a plan wherein they petition the UN for rights to declare big parts of the sea around them as Portuguese territory.
It's a weird plan though, because if they generalized this conception of territorial claims It would kick off so much conflict around the world and violate norms around "freedom of the seas." Like all of South East Asia revolves around claims over the trade routes through the region and Chinese expansion there already makes them sweat.
I also don't really understand why geopolitics nerds and nationalists seem to get so wrapped up in gaming weird 'national pride' metrics. Like, who actually cares where you rank on a list of largest countries or how 'strong' your currency exchange rate is? (Another thing nationalists tend to get really worked up about). If it doesn't impact the security or stability of the state or the material condition of its people it seems like a waste of time to worry about it.