Transatlantic Security
Back to the main
page on Transatlantic Security
NATO
NATO Assigns Counterproliferation Tasks to
Military Forces
25 April 1999
By Otfried Nassauer and Thomas Neve
NATO's new "Alliance Strategic Concept," adopted
today in Washington, commits the Alliance's military forces
for the first time to play a role in countering the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "By deterring the use
of NBC weapons, [NATO military forces] contribute to Alliance
efforts aimed at preventing the proliferation of these weapons
and their delivery means," says the new Concept (para. 41).
Defensive measures and programs to increase
the capability of NATO military forces to operate in an environment
in which there is a threat or risk that WMD might be used
has been subject to NATO military planning for some time.
However, the Alliance never before assigned its military forces
a role in "preventing the proliferation of these weapons and
their delivery means." Despite this change, the new Strategic
Concept stops short of openly assigning Alliance forces a
role in preemptive military action to stop proliferation.
Increased attention is given to the risks resulting
to NATO and its forces abroad from WMD. "Some states, including
on NATO's periphery and in other regions, sell or acquire
NBC weapons and delivery means. ... Non-state actors have
shown the potential to create and use some of these weapons."
(para. 22) Thus "the Alliance's defence posture against the
risks and potential threats of the proliferation of NBC weapons
and their means of delivery must continue to be improved,
including through work on missile defences." Since NATO forces
might operate out of area, "capabilities for dealing with
proliferation risks must be flexible, mobile, rapidly deployable
and sustainable."(para. 56)
For the time being NATO's Strategic Concept
does not contain any reference to nuclear weapons having a
role in deterring the possession or the use of WMD.
Back to Summit Updates
Back to Trans-atlantic
Security Home Page
|
