In other words, the US can increase its own power both by connecting to other NATO members (and then ensuring that NATO is connected to as many other countries and organizations as possible) and by increasing the connectedness of those other countries and organizations. If NATO connects with the African Union, for example, and increases the AU’s connectedness, then both NATO and the AU become more central to the network and hence more powerful in terms of their ability to exercise influence and marshal resources.
换句话讲，美国可以通过两种方式增强其自身的实力：与其他北约国家建立联系（而后确保北约尽可能多地与其他国家和组织联系）和强化其他国家和组织间的联系状况。例如如果北约与非洲联盟建立联系，并改善非盟与其他各方的联系状况，那么北约和非盟在网络中的地位都会加强，其行使影响力和调动资源的能力也因此进一步增强。