Globalization and Its Effect on Overseas Military Operations

Abstract 

Globalization is arguably one of the significant phenomena that influence the social life of most people in the world. Globalization removes social, economic, cultural, and political barriers that may obstruct communication and relations among different countries. Some scholars argue that globalization is an essential factor in global economic growth. This is because globalization encourages integration among nations, which promotes economic development and distribution of the global benefits among the people. However, some scholars bear a contrary opinion regarding the effects of globalization. They perceive globalization as a discriminative force that boosts economic growth in developed countries while denying the developing countries the opportunity to attain economic growth. Most people view globalization from four standard dimensions, namely; economic, political, social, and cultural aspects. However, there is another different dimension from which globalization can be addressed. Globalization can be described from the military perspective. The war on terrorism has become a global issue, and this has brought countries together to fight terrorism. Military globalism has facilitated success in the war against terrorism. This paper will discuss some of the effects of globalization on overseas military operations. 

Key Words 

Globalization, Military globalization 

Introduction 

Military globalization is described as the stretching of military power across the world through various means such as nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The globalization may also result from the presence of foreign military personnel in countries across the world on a mission to keep peace and enhance security in the host countries. Also, military globalization involves the integration of the armed forces across the globe into a global military system which enhances military relations and communication. Advancement in technology has a crucial role in military globalization through innovations such as satellites. Military globalization has hugely impacted overseas military operations. 

Effects of Globalization on Overseas Military Operations 

Military globalization has several effects on overseas military operations. The impacts of military globalization range from successful countering of weapons of mass destruction to increased military funding for foreign operations. Some of the effects are discussed below. 

Deterring and defeat of aggression in major regional conflicts 

One of the positive effects of globalization is the apparent success in the defeat of aggression in the conflict-prone regions of the world. Military globalism has enabled the union of militaries across the globe with the aim of mitigating conflicts in some regions of the world. For instance, since the September 11 attacks on the U.S soil, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has taken an active role in the mitigation of conflicts in the Middle East. NATO is a union of several countries that joined forces to protect the sovereignty of the member states through combined military power. NATO deployed more than 9,000 troops to Northern Afghanistan and also took an active role in the training of Iraqi military forces (Wright, 2019). The 26 NATO members made financial contributions towards the training program of the Iraqi military to ensure stability in the country and the region at large. 

NATO also created a response force that could be deployed anywhere in the world for rescue missions, and this had a significant impact on the effectiveness of the overseas military missions. For instance, the NATO Response Force (NRF) took an active role in rescue missions in the Pakistan earthquake aftermath (Reis, 2018). The NATO has also taken military action in other parts of the world, such as in the Sudan peacekeeping missions where they established an air-bridge to supply the African Union soldiers with necessary materials during the mission. The actions taken by NATO have facilitated the defeat and deterring of conflicts in regions that are prone to conflicts across the world. Similar results have been realized by other organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in various parts of the world. Military globalization has, therefore, taken a significant role in ensuring the success of overseas military operations. 

Countering weapons of mass destruction 

Military globalization has also enhanced the countering of weapons of mass destruction across the world. For instance, NATO has a well-established Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response (CBRNR) team that respond to the possible use of weapons of mass destruction. Such weapons would be a threat to human life if they were to fall on the wrong hands. 

Also, the United Nations plays a crucial role in ensuring that there is elimination and control of nuclear weapons across the world. The UN also ensures that there is regulation of conventional arms, and member countries have to adhere to the set regulatory measures (Ikeda, & Mburu, 2018). This ensures that the weapons are not possessed by unauthorized individuals such as terrorist organizations hence ensuring the safety of the global citizens. Some of the overseas military operations aim to prevent the weapons of mass destruction from being possessed by terrorist organizations. This has enhanced the war on terror by blocking the access of weapons by terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Middle East. Also, military operations have helped to disarm citizens in regions that are prone to conflicts such as South Sudan, Somalia, and parts of the Middle East. 

Use of Advanced Technology in Military Operations 

Globalization has also enhanced the intensive use of modern technology in military operations across the world. The military globalization has enabled the military from developing countries to benefit from modern military technology owned by developed countries. For instance, the AMISOM has significantly benefited from the intelligence reports provided by the UN and the United States military through its satellite technology (Fisher, 2018). Also, the global military has significantly benefited from the use of robotics in military operations, which makes the operations more productive and successful. 

Increased Funding 

The increase in military funding is another benefit to overseas military operations. The member countries of various organizations such as NATO and the UN make financial contributions that facilitate military operations in conflict-prone regions of the world. For instance, in the NATO military operations in the Middle East were funded by the NATO member states (Kivimäki, 2019). This enhanced effective military operations to stabilize the region and also enable military training of the countries affected by the conflicts. 

The globalization has also enabled the funding of militaries of developing countries by developed countries such as the US which ensures extensive training of their military personnel to the global standards. Also, the militaries can acquire modern weapons and technology that enhance their effectiveness in military operations. 

In conclusion, globalization has a significant positive impact on the success of overseas military operations. Military globalization enables overseas military operations that are aimed at countering terrorism, disarmament, peacekeeping, and peace-building. Globalization, therefore, has more than the economic and political impact on global nations. 

References 

Fisher, J. (2018). AMISOM and the regional construction of a failed state in Somalia. African Affairs. 

Ikeda, A., & Mburu, P. (2018). For sustainable nuclear disarmament: Engaging and empowering youth through disarmament education. 

Kivimäki, T. (2019). Power, contribution and dependence in NATO burden sharing. European Security, 1-19. 

Reis, F. A. D. (2018). Military Logistics in Natural Disasters: The Use of the NATO Response Force in Assistance to the Pakistan Earthquake Relief Efforts. Contexto Internacional, 40(1), 73-96. 

Wright, K. A. (2019). Telling NATO’s story of Afghanistan: Gender and the alliance’s digital diplomacy. Media, War & Conflict, 12(1), 87-101.