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NATO
US Outlines WMD Initiative
26 March 1999
By Tasos Kokkinides
Edward Warner, assistant secretary of state for strategy
and requirements, told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services
Committee on counter- terrorism March 23, that the "most mature
international counterproliferation effort" is being developed
at NATO. Warner said that significant progress has been made
in integrating counterproliferation policy into the new, post-Cold
War agenda of the Alliance. Warner also outlined the US proposal
for a Weapons of Mass Destruction initiative that would be
adopted at the Washington Summit.
Following are excerpts of Warner's text as prepared for delivery.
International Cooperation in Meeting Proliferation Threats
We recognize that, in future conflicts where weapons of mass
destruction may be used the United States is likely to be
fighting as part of a coalition. We have a series of initiatives
underway, to discuss these issues with prospective coalition
partners to persuade them that counterproliferation is a critical
element of their national security and that they need to better
equip and train their troops so that they, too, are prepared
for the next war.
Our most mature international counterproliferation effort
is with NATO. Significant progress has been made in integrating
counterproliferation policy into the new, post-cold war agenda
of the Alliance. Since 1994, NATO has had a Defense Group
on Proliferation that meets regularly at a high level. It
has assessed the risks posed by the proliferation of nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons and also has identified key
areas where Alliance members need to improve their military
postures to confront these challenges. This year the Defense
Group on Proliferation plans to review intelligence assessments
reflecting the evolution of WMD risks and to provide policy
guidance as required. The Defense Group on Proliferation also
will address issues related to protecting forces against biological
weapons and NATO's possible collective responses to biological
and chemical weapons attacks on civilians.
Looking ahead, NATO needs to sustain its progress in addressing
the risks posed by weapons of mass destruction. NATO is now
completing work on a U.S. proposal for a NATO WMD Initiative
that would enhance NATO's ongoing efforts against WMD proliferation.
The WMD Initiative will:
- increase intelligence sharing to bolster a better common
understanding of the WMD problem;
- undertake additional political measures to combat WMD
proliferation;
- implement practical defensive measures to improve prospects
for successful military operations in a WMD environment;
and
- establish a small WMD Center within NATO's International
Staff to coordinate Alliance political and defense efforts
against WMD.
The Senior Politico-Military Group on Proliferation (SGP)
and the Defense Group on Proliferation will be primarily responsible
for implementing the WMD Initiative. The WMD Initiative complements
the ongoing work of both groups.
NATO's work under the WMD Initiative will require the Senior
Civil Emergency Planning Committee, and perhaps other NATO
bodies, to increase their efforts to improve the ability of
the Alliance to respond to a chemical or biological weapons
attack against Allies civil populations. Information sharing
on civil protection measures will be an essential first step
to prepare nations to deal with such an event.
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