Pivot to the East
The Pivot to the East is a colloquialism in Belhavia that refers to a geostrategy under the Goldman administration since 2012 that calls for a shift of military force projection and sociopolitical-diplomatic efforts and resources towards the Global East of Pardes, including Ashizwe, the Far East, Skandera, Australis, Azumakya, and the Victorian Ocean region. It is credited to have been conceived and lobbied by War Minister Zalman Yitzchak Katz and strongly supported by key Goldman officials such as Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein.
History
The idea dates back to 2005, when, in wake of the 2004 Sackings, Katz was elevated onto the General Staff. Having spent a significant amount of his career in the East, including fighting in the Nazali War, Myrdesia War, and the South Ashizwe Border War and living in Westonaria, Dacia, and Tobia (Belhavia), Katz was well-versed in regional geopolitics there. He noted the early rising influence of Ulthrannia in Ashizwe, as well as growing proto-RCO and local regionalist efforts that threatened to undermine Belhavian, CDI, and allied geopolitical dominance in the East.
As the Recession of 2006 hit, President Jeff Arnoth had neither the interest nor resources for such a shift in geostrategy. The idea would simmer until 2012, when President Eli Goldman appointed him as the new War Minister. After much lobbying, discussions, and help from allies such Nobelstein and Treasury Minister Eli Roth, Katz convinced Goldman to agree to the strategy.
Current Day
Since 2012, Belhavia has shifted military, intelligence, diplomatic, and sociocultural resources Eastward. The Navy's 2nd Fleet (Eastern Command), based in New Shelvoy, is the largest Belhavian fleet outside of Belhavia proper. New Shelvoy, Tobia, and the Ross Archipelagos all saw increased military deployments.
The Imperial Belhavian Intelligence has increased its stations and contacts throughout the East, augmenting existing hubs of activity in Anikatia, Westonaria, and Dacia. The Foreign Ministry has quietly been building or expanding embassies in Far Eastern nations such as Tuzbekistan and Kongnŭngjang.
Foreign Minister Nobelstein was instrumental in gaining several new members to SOPCOMM, including Anikatia (2010) and Karinzgrad (2012).
The Aisling business magazine Enterprise noted that more than $180 billion Belhavian shekels (~$167 billion URD) in private sector money has poured into the East between 2010 and 2014, from capital projects, to infrastructure and mining, to banking institutions and agribusiness. Major Belhavian hedge fund and investment bank Goldman, Black, and Richman Group recently opened a branch office in Rucesion, Temuair, in 2015.
Reactions
The Pivot to the East has been met with a mixed reaction in Anikatia, with opinions split between those who see the pivot as a way to provide the region a greater role in international affairs. The 2010 Baek government welcomed the move for closer relations with Belhavia, along with a more involved foreign policy in the region. However, some analysts in Anikatia are concerned that the pivot is merely an attempt to undermine the growing Eastern powers, and in response have seen the creation of the ARC as a means of protecting markets against this perceived foreign influence. The new Sui government has also been more skeptical of the pivot and raised concerns over the increase to military facilities within New Shelvoy. The Sui government see the moves as a dangerous return the Cold War style relations.