Geography: Geography is the most stable, tangible, permanent and natural element amongst the determinants of national power. Highlighting the importance of geography, Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography.” To understand geography as an element of national power, we need to understand importance of size, location, climate, topography and boundaries of a state. Size: A large sized country is beneficial in defending frontiers by retreating during an attack, offers better natural resources, can accommodate larger population and establish important industrial complexes. But a large sized country can also be a hindrance in development as it may lack natural resources, have inhospitable climate and topography. Size of a country may not matter much in international relations. USA is more powerful than Russia despite having a smaller territory. Israel, despite being small in size, has a powerful defense mechanism. Location: Location of England helped it in becoming a big naval and imperial power. USA was able to follow its policy of isolationism due to its location; whereas location of Canada, being so close to US, has prevented it from becoming a superpower. Climate: Climate is important for production of food, economy and culture of a nation. Cold Arctic Zone and excessive heat of Sahara have prevented their development. Topography: Plain and artificial boundaries of a country can make it vulnerable to expansionism. Atlantic and Pacific oceans have provided strength to the USA while the Himalayas are generally seen as protecting India’s northern borders. Boundaries: Natural and settled boundaries are a source of friendly and cooperative relations among countries. Unsettled boundaries are a source of conflict that weakens national power.