ABSTRACT
From ancient to modern times, command and control of the shores and the routes of the Eastern Mediterranean has often been a bone of contention between great powers. In geopolitical terms, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus are all part of the chain of countries that comprise the Rimland—Nicholas Spykman’s keyword to describe the wide arc of the Eurasian littoral. Yet, the Eastern Mediterranean merits special attention in geopolitical theory. The concept of the Rimland Bridge is introduced to complement the existing theory, and offer a supplementary term that focuses on the intrinsic nature of the area. The Rimland Bridge is defined as the transit and buffer zone that connects the European and Asian parts of the Rimland. It simultaneously acts as a strategic chokepoint, a valuable gateway, but also as a dangerous fault line due to the enduring Greek–Turkish rivalry. The chapter traces the strategic history of the region from the nineteenth century until the transfer of the guardian’s role from the United Kingdom to the United States in the aftermath of World War II.
