Montenegro sparks a turning point for NATO

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Editor: Li Kun 丨CCTV.com

By Han Xudong, professor at the Strategy Teaching and Research Office with the National Defense University PLA China

The Republic Of Montenegro has recently joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which introduces the first new member state since 2009 and also epitomizes NATO’s new round of expansion.

Finland may likely follow suit. NATO, led by the United States, has embarked on an expansion plan in Europe. The colossal military bloc is lobbying Georgia in south Caucasia area across the Ukraine. The US, United Kingdom and Georgia had already conducted joint military drills in Georgia.

There are certain traits to NATO’s expansion, which is looking to absorb new members, while adding to NATO’s cohesion. NATO continues to escalate the arms race with Russia to spark more European countries to fear national security threats that make them more likely to join NATO.

Such actions accelerate construction of stronger missile defense systems in Spain, Romania and Poland to safeguard each NATO country from missile attacks. Additionally NATO hopes to absorb non-European countries into its sphere.

NATO is the result of a cold war mentality and a military tool for the US to rival the former Soviet Union. After the cold war ended, NATO didn’t dissolve, but expanded and continued to assist Washington for global dominance.

With Montenegro joining, NATO is gaining greater influence in the Balkan region with the potential for more former Yugoslavian countries to join in.

Once that happens, NATO would have a powerful impact on the south Caucasus region, which can add to further influence over the Middle East, followed by escalating regional turmoil that may lead Asian countries to join NATO as well.

Washington may accelerate its global hegemonic strategy center to the Asia Pacific region. After the cold war, the strategic goal of the US is to capture global dominance with a hub to control Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Montenegro’s joining NATO would have more followers in Europe, which means NATO has growing defense strength and the US has stronger control over Europe. Subsequently, Washington can look for more dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.

NATO’s eastward expansion can embolden the US to restructure its strategic center, both of which are two essential strategic actions that would influence global security.