The international strategic landscape was highly volatile and complex in 2012, and there were a number of salient features worthy of special attention. These salient features will likely persist as basic trends of the global strategic picture in the coming five to ten years. The international strategic landscape was highly volatile and complex in 2012, and there were a number of salient features worthy of special attention. These salient features will likely persist as basic trends of the global strategic picture in the coming five to ten years.