Plan
National Strategic Thinking
At the national level, strategic thinking is closely tied to the overall planning of a country’s long-term secure development. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious application of strategic thinking. Proposed in 2013, the BRI is a combination of water and land trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. The plan supports China’s domestic trade and economic growth while also increasing its influence over the dozens of countries within the project.
Elements of a Strategic National Plan
Vision and Goals – Every strategic plan begins with a clear vision. The best example is the United States’ record in developing GPS technology during the Cold War. The mission was simple: build an accurate, all-weather satellite navigation system. GPS was essential not only for military applications, but also for civilian use around the world – the strategic picture would soon become an equal opportunity technology.
Effective Strategic Thinking Careful Resource Allocation Japan is closely tied to robotics and technological innovation and must make the right moves in terms of resource pool investments. These investments have made Japan a global leader in robotics, but they have also laid the foundation for today’s innovative startups.
There is also the risk management strategic plan that needs to anticipate and avoid possible risks. India is setting the benchmark for ensuring pharmaceutical production through a smart combination of risk management and strategic thinking. Not only has India met domestic requirements, but it has also become a major contributor to the global pharmaceutical supply chain due to significant investments in providing generic drug manufacturing capabilities, which has been particularly beneficial during COVID-19, when global demand for these categories of drugs has soared.
Implement and adapt The best strategic plan is one that can be changed based on circumstances. South Korea responded quickly to COVID-19, using technology to combat it, leaving the country virtually free of the outbreak, including rapid and widespread testing and effective population communication technologies. This strategy not only allowed South Korea to contain the virus domestically, but also gained international recognition for South Korea’s best practices in responding to the global outbreak.
Evaluate and improve Continuous evaluation is an integral part of the evolution of strategic plans. Germany’s energy transition is an experiment in high technological and economic adaptability, following the tradition of energy policies that value sustainability and focus on the long term.
Ploy
Conspiracy in Foreign Policy
Strategic International Relations
Russia’s alignment since 2014. After Western sanctions over Crimea, Russia instead focused on strengthening relations with China, signing dozens of agreements and holding joint military exercises. This alignment is important not only for diversifying and strengthening Russia’s economic dependence, but also for resisting Western pressure in other areas.
Economic Leverage
As China’s use of economic leverage through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) demonstrates, this strategy embodies an approach to expanding regional influence. China finances infrastructure projects in poorer countries, securing strategic assets and influence over those countries’ policies. By 2021, more than half of the world’s countries are involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative in some way—an example of using economic diplomacy to build diplomatic relationships and shape regional dynamics.
The irony of the United States’ push for 5G and AI technology standards is that technologically advanced areas are among the many key tools it uses to try to maintain technological leadership. The United States not only benefits economically by setting standards and promoting the global adoption of U.S.-developed technologies, but also gains strategic advantage by spreading its protocols and systems around the world, exerting influence over national systems, and shaping its technological landscape to suit national interests.
Throughout the run-up to the European elections, Russian activity highlights how bad actors can mask their intentions through social media, often using opposing arguments to sow discord, and influence votes through disinformation tactics. Interference in the 2016 U.S. election through targeted social media campaigns demonstrated that information warfare can serve as a strategic mechanism to distort perceptions, sow discord, and achieve specific goals without the use of military force akin to conventional engagements.
Pattern
Examining the Model of National Development
Using Infrastructure Construction as a Growth Lever China’s systematic approach to infrastructure construction is indeed a clear strategic model. This approach is reflected in its plan to build more than 35,000 kilometers of high-speed rail by the end of 2025, connecting major cities across China. This strategic model not only strengthens economic ties, but also stimulates overall regional growth and urbanization.
Policy Anchors
While South Korea has long made technological innovation a policy cornerstone, supported by specific industries such as semiconductors (where it leads in global chip production), automotive, and biotechnology, its vision is more than just embracing digital capitalism. The semiconductor industry should better translate this into China’s unique characteristics, with the U.S. government investing $450 billion by 2030 to support innovation in order to remain globally competitive and economically dominant with its cutting-edge technologies.
Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Energy Policy
The “Energy Transition” away from nuclear and coal power generation is an ideal example of a successful strategic approach to national energy policy. At the heart of this transition is the energy policy, the Energy Transition, which aims to make renewable energy account for 80% of all electricity production in the country by 2050. Their strategy has been successful, with renewable energy accounting for 46% of Germany’s electricity consumption last year.
This is a strategic model adopted by many countries in education and workforce development, which focuses on increasing the population with degree-level education to improve national competitiveness. Policy goal: Finland’s approach prepares students for the demands of a changing global economy by emphasizing the early development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This focus is reflected in Finland’s regular PISA (Program for Global Scholar Analysis) major rankings.
Position
Geopolitical Alliances
The United States has used its power to build a network of military bases around the world, especially in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Besides expediting military response, having troops in these regions also helps build political capabilities and relationships. To be sure, as of 2021, the United States maintains more than 800 military bases in more than 70 countries around the world, with the goal of expanding its reach and ensuring stability or loyalty in line with its national goals.
Trade Agreements and Alliances
Another strategic move Japan has seen is its trade agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). After the United States withdrew, Japan has greatly strengthened its position in Asia by taking a leadership role. This measure may consolidate Japan’s position as a new hub for regional trade and also help balance China’s growing economic importance.
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Position in Global Petropolitics
The largest applicable country strategically positions its conservatives in a way that PFM provides services at home and in the middle). Since completing both lists in the 1980s, Bhutan has recently transformed from an authoritarian regime to a multi-party democracy, while Saudi Arabia has been associated with serious human rights violations; it is not only one of the most developed countries in terms of GDP per capita, but also, if measured using the HDI, due to its severe wealth inequality. Both anomalies can be explained by their over-dependence on oil – which has been around 15% or 33% every year since that year, no matter which angle you look at it; as the de facto leader of OPEC, its existence seems to depend on being able to independently manipulate global fuel sales indicators, comparing oil-intensive Qatar. It can redraw the economic map around the world and change geopolitics, and decisions on oil production levels affect not only global markets but also international diplomacy.
Strategic digital investments
Estonia is one of the leading e-government countries and cybersecurity experts, mainly due to its strategic investments in digital infrastructure. Over the past decade, Estonia has become one of the most technologically advanced countries by implementing policies to move public services to digital platforms. Another aspect of this strategic positioning is not only to improve national efficiency, but also to attract global partnerships in the process, especially in technology and security.
Perspective
National strategy over long-term vision
Sweden’s approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one such strategy that focuses on long-term sustainability. Sweden aspires to be one of the first countries in the world to achieve all SDGs by 2030. This is reflected in policies such as heavy investments in renewable energy, which drove 54.6% of Sweden’s overall energy use in 2020 (our energy), with a focus on sustainable development and growth between human, urban and ecological systems.
Technological sovereignty
China’s tools for asymmetric competition with the United States in 2025? This is particularly noticeable in the Made in China 2025 plan, which focuses on semiconductors as well as artificial intelligence and telecommunications. The plan is also accompanied by large-scale state financing and seeks to make local industry 70% self-sufficient in value in advanced technology by 2025.
Japan Immigration Paradise
Demographic Challenges Japan is facing a turning point in demographic challenges, so it may pursue comprehensive immigration reforms and advances in robotics to make up for labor shortages. Given the labor gap, Japan introduced a policy in 2018 to accept up to about 345,000 foreign workers over a five-year period without endangering Japanese culture and society.
Global Health Leadership
The U.S. approach to global health, represented by the creation of PEPFAR, emphasizes a strategic interest in overseas performance, but also helps promote new diplomatic and bilateral relations with host countries. PEPFAR has spent more than $85 billion to help global HIV care, treatment, and prevention. It worked; you can see the graph going down: PEPFAR is to be highly praised and has played a role in reshaping the U.S. international health response, but not just on U.S. terms.