Interview with George (Sam) HAMONTREE III^

Vasile SIMILEANU: Geopolitics, as a science, was challenged after the World War II. After 1989, it became part of the new world order.

Please tell us about your activities in the field of geopolitics! How do you define geopolitics?

  George HAMONTREE III: My first interest in geopolitics began as a student in a West German University in 1985. My interest continued with my US Military assignment as a German Liaison Officer during the end of the Cold War in 1989. As the wall in Berlin came down, many changes occurred as East and West Germany united. The changes caused anxiety for some West Germans as they reunited with a degraded infrastructure requiring significant financial resources to bring the former East Germany to West Germany’s standards. Two generations of Germans were raised in East Germany with Soviet ideology and indoctri-nation also resulting in significant difference in political views and parties. There was also some anxiety from neighboring countries as Germany reunited as a potential super power, and the justification for a strong NATO presence was in question. My exposure to geopolitics during this epic time in history when a war in Europe was won and the countries were stronger at the end of the war than at the beginning, started my new interest in studying geopolitics. Thirteen years later I attended the US Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the US Army War College’s National Security Strategy course where I developed a strategy for a security plan for the Balkans. I spent 11 more years in Europe serving in the US European Command, SFOR, KFOR, Multi-National Forces Iraq, the EUROCORPS and NATO while stationed in Germany, France, and Spain. In the Joint Force Headquarters in Madrid, I had the invaluable opportunity to serve on numerous Mobile Training Teams for NATO, Partnership for Peace and other countries in the former Soviet Union and northern Africa. I also assisted other countries’ Ministry of Defense with rotary wing capabilities for national defense options and for comprehensive air defense missile plans.

I define geopolitics as the comprehensive and holistic analysis of diplomatic, in-formation, military and economic (DIME) attributes of countries and their relationships in regional and global hegemonies.

V.S.: Geopolitics has become of impact in all analyses of political, military, social, economic, cultural and diplomatic developments. Do you think that the classical theories of the geopolitical schools are still relevant?

George HAMONTREE III: This is a tough question that gets a tough answer. Globally I don’t believe classical theories are relevant anymore. The New World Order (NOW) has enough global and regional influence through the World Economic Forum (WEF) led by Klaus Schwab; the World Health Organization (WHO) influenced and supported financial by moguls like the Bill Gates foundation; and other influencers like George Soros to control regional and global narratives. They have the ability to control the narrative through corporate financial and social credits, elections, and public perceptions around the world through a controlled mainstream media. The classical theories of geopolitical studies will only have merit in regions with nation state actors in scenarios that are inconsequential to the NWO’s agenda. A new approach in the study of geopolitics must take into consideration the current and proposed policies and direction of the WEF and the WHO, and the effects on nations that are not fully cooperative with their agenda. Fifteen years ago, most people say who is the WHO, and what can they do? After the COVID outbreak, the WHO influ-enced the world’s economy, travel, medical industry, and infrastructure to come to a temporary halt. Their global control had a devastating impact that exceeds any other global disaster in the history of the world and the disease itself. The WEF and WHO have zero elected representation from the nations of the world, yet they have an enormous control and influence over the DIME of every country in the world. This aspect of control and influence must be incorporated on how geopolitics are studied and evaluated to be an effective science in the future.

V.S.: At university level, please tell us how geopolitics is reflected in the university curriculum (undergraduate courses, masters, doctorates)!

What research institutes, NGOs and other formats are developed for geopolitical studies?

George HAMONTREE III: I must cave at my response about education, it has been 20 years since I last attended a geopolitical type of education and there may be adjustments in the programs I reference. In the US military, field grade officers (ORF4) were required military education at the Master’s level that provided the first intro-duction to geopolitics. Military branches also have an additional one year of operational and strategic studies that goes into depth of planning. security and strategy. For senior field grade officers (ORF 5), another year of education at the War Colleges provides a master’s level that focuses at a higher level of geopolitics.

V.S.: Do you think that there is a need for a better visibility of this geographical science in research environments worldwide? Through what forms and means?

George HAMONTREE III: I do believe there is a need for more visibility of Geopo-litical Science. A recommended way for more visibility is to incorporate Geopolitics in civilian education at the university level for students studying political science, history, and military science. NATO schools like the school in Oberammergau, Germany are also an excellence choice to provide education to NATO and Partnership for Peace officers for Geopolitical training.

V.S.: Should geopoliticians and their theories be made more popular in the media and social media? What about in relations with partner structures in other countries?

Who do you work with to promote geopolitics?

Should an international organisation be set up to promote the interests of this science?

George HAMONTREE III: Unfortunately I don’t recommend using mainstream media as a tool to promote geopolitics and their theories, as the media has its own agenda and cannot be unbiased. Social media is a better venue for sharing theories and observations, however platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn still block and restrict opinions that are contrary to their agenda. GeoPolitica in Romania is a great example of sparking conversation, dialog, and analysis of pertinent issues in a region. I think this construct would be a great tool for other regions in the world and shared in a global forum.

V.S.: In the new global constructions, determined by geo-strategic actions, how do you perceive geopolitical pressures on your state?

How should state actors react to pressures from non-state actors? Is there collaboration between geopoliticians and business?

George HAMONTREE III: The US has many unique historical characteristics as a country that presents issues for the new global construct. The US was formed on rebellion against the UK with a strong constitution establishing individual rights, and sovereignty at the local and individual state level versus at the national level. Imposing mandates, policies, guidance and restriction from international organizations does not currently have much effect at various local levels of government.

V.S.: What are the geopolitical and geo-strategic challenges of impact and how are they reflected in the strategies promoted by your state?

George HAMONTREE III: I am not current on the US National Security Strategy or the Nation Military Strategy.

V.S.: What impact do geopolitical theories have on the decisions of your country’s leaders?

George HAMONTREE III: I am not current on the US National Security Strategy or the Nation Military Strategy.

V.S.: Do you consider it appropriate to collaborate with the Romanian GeoPolitica Magazine on these approaches?

We would be honoured to publish your analyses in the magazine’s pages!

George HAMONTREE III: Yes, definitely.

V.S.: New technological changes have led to the emergence of new geopolitical theories such as GeoIntelligence: the geopolitics of information, which we promoted in Romania in 2014, Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence: the fifth dimension of geopolitics (2019) and Exopolitics: the geopolitics of outer space as the sixth geopolitical dimension (2021), theories that have been presented in the pages of GeoPolitica Magazine.

How do you assess these theories?

In the environment of an academic in your country are there such concerns?

George HAMONTREE III: New technologies, capabilities, and emerging dimensions of geopolitics will always require adjustments in the way political, military, eco-nomics, social, infrastructure, information, and intelligence are processed in the study of Geopolitics.

V.S.: Please specify the impact of geopolitics on your state’s international relations, military strategy, economy, energy resources and security!

George HAMONTREE III: While statically very few people study geopolitics, the impact of GeoPolitica has a significant influence on those who have a passion to un-derstand and promote security cooperation and engagement with other countries.