Geography remains the enduring core of international relations. It is not merely a question of where a country is located. The physical geography of mountains, plains, rivers, coastlines, and seas shapes how nations behave in both war and peace. While warfare and military technologies have evolved dramatically, the fundamental issues over which States continue to fight haven’t changed much: territory, sovereignty, and identity. Geography remains inseparable from these contests. States and non-state actors alike continue to strategise, fight, and seek leverage through the opportunities and constraints imposed by geography. If the Russia-Ukraine war is being fought over a combustible concoction…