rimland

Rimland refers to the coastal or peripheral regions surrounding a landmass, particularly in geopolitical theory where it designates the crescent of territory along the edges of Eurasia—from Western Europe through the Middle East to East Asia.

The concept gained prominence through political geographer Nicholas Spykman, who argued that control of the rimland, rather than the heartland, was key to global power.

The rimland nations formed a buffer between sea powers and continental powers.