In the newly released report titled NATO 2030, containing 138 proposals, the future of NATO’s role is outlined, primarily based on China’s military rise and proximity to western nations. The report was published on Tuesday calling for reform of the Atlantic alliance. A NATO diplomat disclosed that China is not the trading partner the west had hoped it would be and they are infringing on western territory in Antarctica and Africa, closer to NATO’s members. In addition, the report claimed that NATO needs to maintain a technological advantage over China in order to protect computer systems and infrastructure. I think that this is a very surprising step from NATO. As it was created to combat Soviet influence, this report is a clear “sign of the times,” detailing China as NATO’s biggest and most relevant threat. NATO has been quite passive and almost unnecessary in recent times, however I believe that this is a positive step for the organization and its members. It is reassuring to see some reform from the aging NATO military alliance, as war and a major threat to the west has not been extremely relevant. However, as the report said, China is the logical threat to the west and taking steps to prepare is not a bad thing. NATO is a military IGO, made for the purpose of protecting the west from the Soviet Union’s communist influence. In a way NATO is a military IGO in place for the protection of democracy from communist ideologies, so it makes sense that the next big threat that NATO would name is a large communist country. It is clear the way times are changing, as now protection for computer systems and infrastructure are on the same list of concerns with nuclear weapons. There has been mild cooperation with China and western nations for some time now, but China has always had the ability and mind to make a power play, and it is beneficial that the west is making reforms to prepare for it.
