a/the path of confrontation

Question

I ran into a sentence while reading an article on Reuters:

...and put the two countries back on a path of confrontation.

I wondered why it was a path of confrontation instead of the path of confrontation because from what I understood, it was a specific path and so it should call for the definite article. Further research on the Internet did not help as I found these:

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Wednesday the United States was on a path of confrontation... (Reuters)

Once again, the North American government is taking on the path of confrontation with Cuba. (Telegraph)

Does it have anything to do with the verbs used with a/the path?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

No, it's one of a number of established English expressions such as:

Path of least resistance
Path of peace

In short, the expression has become a name for hostile words and actions that are likely to lead to confrontation.

The choice of article, either a or the depends on the context and the intention of the writer.

If there is a single path of confrontation, it's the path of confrontation.

But if it's one of several possible paths of confrontation, it's a path of confrontation.