Catalonia independence referendum was met by brutal attacks from Spanish police after the Government in Madrid declared the vote illegal.
The vote fell resoundingly in favour of independence, with 92 per cent of Catalans who went to the polls supporting splitting from the nation.
Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has since said his Government will not negotiate over “anything illegal” or “accept blackmail” from the small Spanish state.
Now former official for her majesty’s diplomatic services William Mallinson has blamed “the enormous size of the European Union and globalisation”.
He argued the bloc undermines the importance of nations, resulting in “smaller parts getting irritated”.
Dr Mallinson went on to draw parallels between the Catalan crisis and the NATO led-campaign in Yugoslavia following Kosovo’s push for independence.
He said: ”Why isn’t NATO bombing Madrid for 78 days, because the situation is similar in very many ways.
“In fact, Kosovo is even more a part of Serbia than Catalonia is a part of Spain.
“Let’s remember in the Middle Ages joined when Ferdinand and Isabella joined all those bits of Spain together.
“Let’s remember that Spain is a united country but it is a conglomerate. We also must remember this dangerous knock-on effect.
“This is going to feed Basque anger more and more.
“And of course, other parts of Europe, possibly even the Walloons in Belgium, not to mention Scotland.”
NATO joined the Kosovan Liberation army in 1999 when tensions in the region risked escalating into all-out war.
It comes as Spain sends two convoys of troops into Catalonia in a move that is likely to anger the regional parliament.
Troops from the Logistic Support Group 41 (AALOG 41) who are based in Aragon were told of their move at about 7pm last night.
The exact number of soldiers is not known but according to the newspaper El Confidencial, two contingents of troops are being sent in 20 trucks.
It is understood their orders are to provide logistical support to the Guardia Civil and national police still stationed in the region.
The appearance of troops is likely to be seen as highly controversial as the President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont has previously referred to the presence of the Guardia Civil and national police as “occupying forces” and had said they should leave all four of the Catalan provinces immediately.
Former Vice President Alfonso Guerra defends the idea of sending the Army to Catalonia.
The former president and leader of the socialist party PSOE Alfonso Guerra has defended the decision to send the Army into Catalonia in case the police were not able to control the situation created by a “pro-fascist” independence movement that is attempting “a coup d’etat”.
In an interview with radio station Onda Cero, he recalled that in Paris the Army has been on the streets for a year because of the terrorist threat and that does not make France less of a democratic country.
Alfonso Guerra has supported the message that the King addressed the Spaniards last night because he made an emphasis “where it is needed, in the members of the coup d’etat”, with whom he believes it is not possible to negotiate.